Support for a parent or parents with a learning disability

Parents with learning disabilities can and do become good parents, when the right support is in place. If they don't get the right, support, things can go wrong. Sometimes this means social services might need to check the child is safe. They might need to make child protection plan for the child.

Community nurses want to be able to help you to be a good enough parent. Many parenting programmes are available, but many of them are not adapted to meet the needs of parents with learning disabilities.

Community learning disability nurses can support parents with learning disabilities. Nurses can support parents with a learning disability by:

• Making information accessible to you
• Advocating and making sure reasonable adjustments are made
• working closely with other organisations.

Using social stories and easy read information, Community nurses can also give you information about:

• contraception (avoiding pregnancy in the future)
• pregnancy (what to expect)
• and post natal support (support for the parent/s after the birth of the baby)