"Do you see me?"
This week is Learning Disability Week.
It takes place in the third week of June every year and in 2024, it's running from the 17-23 June.
The event, organised by the charity Mencap, and is an opportunity to raise awareness about different learning disabilities, what life is like for those who have one and to also celebrate what people with learning disabilities bring to society.
This year's theme is
It's all about challenging some of the barriers people who have learning disabilities face.
According to Mencap, a learning disability is a person's reduced intellectual ability, meaning they can face difficulty with everyday activities, such as household tasks, reading, socialising, working at a job or at school, and communicating - which affects someone for their whole life.
People with a learning disability can sometimes need extra support to learn new skills, understand complicated information or interact with other people.
A learning disability doesn't mean people can't live happy, fulfilling or successful lives.
Mencap says that the term 'learning disability' is often confused with 'learning difficulty', but they're actually two different things.
Unlike a learning disability, a learning difficulty doesn't affect the general intelligence of a person.
A person with a learning difficulty may face barriers or problems when it comes to processing certain types of information because of the way their brain works.
For example, someone with dyslexia has the ability to understand words and what they mean, but their learning difficulty makes it harder for them to engage with words fluently. This can affect their ability to read, write or spell.
Other examples of learning difficulties include:
dyspraxia - this affects a person's movement and co-ordination
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - this affects a person's behaviour and ability to concentrate or maintain attention
dysgraphia -this affects a person's ability to write
An individual may have one or more learning difficulties and like learning disabilities, the severity isn't the same for everyone.
It's also possible for someone to have a learning disability and a learning difficulty at the same time.
Things to do
Friday 21st June – “Do you see me?” Photo Competition
We know you all love a competition. We know lots of you enjoy photography. So put them both together and what have you got? A photography competition!
What better time to run a competition than Friday the 21st June during Learning Disability Week. Especially as the theme for Learning Disability Week is “Do you see me?”
We want to see you all over Wirral. We want to see you out and about doing the things you love. We want to see you doing what ever it is that you do. Get some to take your photo. Or take a selfie. Enter your photo in the Do you see me Photography Competition.
A few people have already sent their photos in. Katharine has sent this great photo. She wanted us to see her ‘working out at the gym’. What do you think? Could it be a winning photo? What do you want everyone to see you doing?
Send yours in now to be in with chance of winning a prize. Email them to info@mencapwirral.org.uk on WhatsApp to 07767 110 708.
Looking forward to seeing your photos and making a video of them all for Facebook on Friday 21st June.
Saturday 22nd June – Vale Park Fun Day
What are you doing on Saturday 22nd June?
Why not come on down to Vale Park in New Brighton to help us round off our Learning Disability Week celebrations?
There is no need to book, you can just show up on the day and join in the fun.
We will have football-themed games to celebrate the Euros, snacks for those who are hungry, and fabulous performances from local musicians and choirs.
Make sure you bring some change to join in with the games and for a chance to win big on the raffle.
We hope to see you there!
