LEVEL 1 – Easy Read Module
1. What is Support?
Supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions means helping them to:
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Feel safe
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Feel understood
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Learn new skills
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Be independent
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Have a voice
Support should always be:
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Kind
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Patient
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Respectful
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Person-centered
2. Counseling & Therapy
Counseling helps people talk about their:
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Feelings
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Worries
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Stress
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Mental health
Some people may find talking hard, so therapy can include:
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Pictures
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Drawing
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Music
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Art
Therapy should be:
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Calm
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Safe
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Non-judgmental
3. Coaching (Life Skills Support)
Coaching helps people with daily living skills.
This can include help with:
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Routines
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Time keeping
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Planning
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Shopping
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Appointments
Coaches break tasks into small steps.
This makes things easier to understand.
4. Mentoring & Peer Support
A mentor is someone who guides and supports another person.
They help with:
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Confidence
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Goals
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Work skills
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Social skills
Peer support means meeting others with similar experiences.
This helps people feel less alone.
5. Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself.
People learn to:
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Say what they need
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Ask for help
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Request adjustments
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Know their rights
Example:
“Asking for extra time in exams.”
6. Communication Skills
Good communication includes:
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Listening
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Being patient
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Using simple language
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Using pictures if needed
Mirroring means showing you understand someone’s feelings by:
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Nodding
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Matching tone
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Reflecting emotions
7. Advocacy
Advocacy means supporting someone to have their voice heard.
Advocates help people:
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Access services
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Understand rights
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Challenge unfair treatment
Level 1 – Knowledge Check Questions
1. What does support help people to do?
a) Feel safe
b) Feel scared
c) Feel ignored
2. Counseling helps people talk about:
a) Feelings
b) Worries
c) Both
3. Coaching helps with:
a) Daily living skills
b) Flying planes
c) Driving trains
4. What is self-advocacy?
a) Speaking up for yourself
b) Speaking for others only
c) Staying silent
5. Advocacy means:
a) Ignoring people
b) Supporting people’s rights
c) Punishing people
LEVEL 2 – Easy Read Module
(Level 2 = deeper knowledge + practitioner understanding)
1. Counseling & Therapeutic Techniques
Some therapies are adapted for people with learning disabilities.
One example is:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps people understand links between:
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Thoughts
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Feelings
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Behaviors
Adaptations may include:
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Pictures
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Simple language
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Visual worksheets
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Short sessions
CBT is often used for:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Low confidence
2. Person-Centered Support
Person-centered support means:
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Seeing the person first
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Not the disability
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Listening to their wishes
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Respecting choices
It creates a safe space for expression.
3. Creative Therapies
Not everyone communicates through words.
Creative therapies include:
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Art therapy
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Music therapy
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Dance therapy
These help with:
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Emotional release
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Trauma expression
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Relaxation
4. Coaching & Executive Function
Executive functioning skills include:
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Planning
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Organizing
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Starting tasks
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Remembering tasks
Coaches support by:
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Breaking tasks down
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Creating routines
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Using planners
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Using reminders
5. Goal Setting
Coaching focuses on real-life goals such as:
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Employment
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Education
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Independent living
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Social skills
Goals should be:
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Clear
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Achievable
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Structured
6. Mentoring & Self-Advocacy
Mentors help individuals to:
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Recognize strengths
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Build resilience
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Plan careers
Self-advocacy training teaches people to:
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Understand their diagnosis
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Explain support needs
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Request accommodations
7. Mirroring & Reflective Communication
Mirroring (reflective listening) involves:
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Matching tone
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Reflecting feelings
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Showing empathy
It builds trust and rapport.
Parroting (word-for-word repetition) is usually avoided because it may feel insincere.
8. Advocacy & Systemic Change
Advocacy happens at two levels:
Individual Advocacy
Helping one person access support.
Systemic Advocacy
Changing systems, policies, and services.
Examples include improving access to:
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Healthcare
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Education
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Employment
9. Circle of Care
Support works best when professionals collaborate, including:
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Families
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Therapists
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Doctors
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Educators
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Support workers
This is called a Circle of Care.
10. Strengths-Based Practice
Support should focus on:
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Abilities
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Talents
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Interests
Not just difficulties.
This builds:
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Confidence
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Motivation
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Independence
Level 2 – Knowledge Check Questions
1. CBT links:
a) Thoughts, feelings, behaviors
b) Food and sleep
c) Weather and mood
2. Person-centered support means:
a) Focusing only on disability
b) Seeing the person first
c) Ignoring choices
3. Give one example of creative therapy.
(Open answer)
4. Executive functioning includes:
a) Planning
b) Organization
c) Both
5. What is mirroring?
a) Reflective listening
b) Copying homework
c) Ignoring emotions
6. What is systemic advocacy?
a) Supporting one person only
b) Changing systems and services
c) Avoiding change
7. Name one member of the Circle of Care.
(Open answer)
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