Life working in adult learning disabilities.

Well its been a busy few weeks again, full of dissertation work, becoming a committee member for BCU's SALTSOC, but most importantly placement. I'm now in week 4 of my placement with ALD (adult learning disability).

I definitely feel like I'm enjoying it more and gaining in confidence week by week, but wonder how I'll ever be as good as the wonderful SLTs I'm placed with! I'm hoping all students feel like this :-)

I have to say my heart has been broken with some of what I've seen and heard and read. Many people will have hard of the Winterbourne scandal, abuse of adults with LD in a care home. And I thought things were better now. But research and listening to stories of experts by experience and reading case notes shows just how vulnerable this population is. And so may adults LD display behaviours that challenge, but when you start to unpick why you find unfulfilling lives, boredom, frustration and trauma.

But I have loved trying to play a tiny part in raising awareness about these issues - watch out for a Twitter campaign coming soon. And I've loved getting involved in assessing communication and supporting those who work with adults with LD - I feel like I'm just starting to really do the job of an SLT now, rather than just watch.

Is adult LD where I'll end up working? I don't know yet, but a definite maybe.