Supporting someone with a learning disability fact sheet

In this section, you'll find useful information when supporting someone with a learning disability.

Page last reviewed: 07 November 2023

People with a learning disability may need a bit more time to understand new information – but as volunteers you are most likely to just be chatting and providing some human contact.

There are no specialist skills that you need – your compassion and your kind donation of time is enough to make a huge difference to someone’s day.

If you are talking about new or more complicated information, take time, use easy words, and do not worry if you need to repeat things to help someone understand them. Try not to give too much information all in one go. It can be helpful to imagine you are talking in bullet points, and to allow time between one idea and the next.

Page last reviewed: 20 December 2023

One way to help reduce anxiety is to feel like you have some control. If you are supporting a person with a learning disability and they feel like want to have more control, chatting about things they can control, like their daily routine, could be helpful. This might include discussing times to eat, work and do some exercise. Remember everyone is different and not everyone will want or need help with
this.

As with anyone you are supporting as a volunteer, if you have any concerns about a person and their wellbeing, contact the Support Team on 0808 196 3382^[1]

Page last reviewed: 06 November 2023