Chapter two History of learning disability

Before the 1980s, most people with learning disabilities with all levels lived in long stay hospitals or institutions, now many of them are closed down. We had very little or no choice and control at all.We were either stuck in where they were or
they were lucky if a member of staff took us. We couldn't go out alone or together without staff. We didn't learn anything because of us been slow learners, no one gave us any confidence to do anyhting. We were treated unequal to other people. The staff didn't have the time of day we us. We were seen as a danger to society.

Today in everything, things are better than they were but we still have a long way to go.

For example; most people with mild disabilities like myself get by living alone with a little family support, even that wasn't allowed at one time. It's getting the balance between independence and support.Let us do the things we can do but support us with the things we can't. Today society tries to support people who need different levels of support. Times are pretty at the moment with the credit crunch so a lot services have cutback but people are more educated to what they were but they still have a lot to learn.

We have seen the difference today compared to in the past. We were labelled and treat different to other people when we are human beings just like they are.

We had poor, treated, we were neglected and abused. We were seen as mentally handicapped, sub normal, mentally backward enteral, a menace and burden to society. Society tends to called people without disabilities normal, no one is normal some people are slower than others. Everyone is a human being. These bad things affected people with disabilities lives very badly that they suffered Stress, Anxiety and depression. Many had health problems any for example Epilepsy. We were misunderstood because we were seen as different, strange or and even mad.

I am not saying all people with disabilities faced these things but they were common to happen.
Over the centuries attitudes have been bad but they have now got better.

Chapter three Family break ups and learning disability.

Evan people with disabilities ourselves understand when we are adults what hard work we are through no fault of our own. This is easy misunderstood. The stress of bring up children can be a strain on relationships but twice as much for couples who have children with learning disabilities. Many couples blame the children for their marriages or and relationship break but the affects and the work learning disability can bring it can damage your life even more.

At the same time it makes the child feel guilty mainly when their parents slipt up. In some cases depending what the break up is over, children are sad see their parents slipt but for other it's relief. In my case my parents slipt before I was born so I have known any different but I didn't see my Dad until I was 21 but I told he saw me when I was just born.

On the bright side learning disability isn't all black and white if or and when the child gets older some people get better as they get older depending on their disabilities but on the whole that becomes slowly in my experience.

What I understand is everyone has the rights to have their life as adults as much as they love their children. Trying to get a balance of seeing it from the adult and child's point a view is hard. Yet no child asks to be born but no child ask to have leaning disabilities. Not that I am saying that children are not planned. This does just apply to just children adults too. Everyone with learning disabilities need some kind of support even other people too. No one gets any younger. May be you have been looking after your grown up child for years, years and years but if child with disabilities is only a baby, you too should have the rights of support if that's what you want. No one wants to make other peoples' lives hard but sometimes one doesn't have a choice. Sadly like most things learning disabilities affect lives.

Saying that the lucky ones like myself with mild disabilities tend to get better as we get even though still have problems so families start to have a bit more freedom. As adults with disabilities want to be to have their own lives because all these years as children they have had to be protect so much which is no different to anyone really.

The amount of times my Mother has said your hard work Sara, the amount of times it's made me feel guilty. As my Mum would say any child is hard work but when they have disabilities the work is even harder. If you are a peron with disability, carer, family member, friend, family friend or and etc please email if you would like a chat, you may want to make a common or and may need support one way or the other. sarajgorman@googlemail.com or Facebook sarajgorman@gmail.com