Our second annual Learning Disabilities and Autism Conference proves a sell-out success
At the end of last month, our Trust hosted our second annual Learning Disability and Autism Conference. The sold-out event was attended by more than 70 colleagues, professionals from colleges and schools, people with lived experience and parents.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Do you see me?”, taken from Mencap’s learning disability awareness week, which took place the week before. The conference also incorporated autism and brought people together from a variety of backgrounds and specialisms to challenge the barriers autistic people and people with learning disabilities face on a daily basis.
Ted Page, Clinical Educator in Learning Disabilities and Autism, who was part of the organisational team for the event said: “As well our main theme, our conference highlighted the health inequality people with learning disabilities and autistic people experience.
“We also planned a slightly different approach this year with presentations taking place simultaneously in different rooms to give the delegates greater opportunity to hear from our wide variety of speakers.”
Taking place in our Children’s Hospital Lecture Theatre and break-out room in our Education Centre, the packed programme included a special yoga session to start the day, an opportunity to try virtual reality headsets used with patients across our hospital, a look at sensory boxes used by our Play workers and mindfulness sessions.
In addition to the activities, there were talks by colleagues and invited guests giving insight into their roles, sharing patient stories and lived experiences as well as updating on training initiatives and detailing the support our Trust offers to improve staff wellbeing and patient experience.
Following the event, one attendee said: “Well done to the team for organising such wonderful and insightful event. Thoroughly enjoyed the conference and was inspired at the end.”
While another attendee said: “The day just flowed perfectly from start to finish. I enjoyed every minute of the day. I have learnt so much and have got so many more ideas to help and support patients with Learning Disabilities and Autism. Well done all.”
With this year’s successful event behind them for another year, the team have confirmed that plans are already underway for next year’s conference.