Page 15 - Community Living Magazine 34-3

professional development

Course shows appetite for learning

A free university course for the learning disability workforce The course also features family members
has highlighted the demand for alternatives to the vocational whose relatives cannot advocate for
themselves: Clare and her daughter Elinor,
model of education, say Liz Tilley and Jan Walmsley and Phil who talks about his sister Bernie.
The Open University team were kindly
permitted to use extracts from Learn With
n 2019, the Open University launched a Us, a video-led course to alert professionals
free online course, Exploring Learning to the perspectives of family carers.
IDisabilities: Supporting Belonging, Therefore, the students encounter
aimed at the learning disability workforce. many individuals with different levels
A year later, around 50,000 people have of impairment in a variety of
visited the course page, 11,206 have life circumstances.
enrolled and 3,513 students have received In putting the course together, we were
badges after completing the course and able to draw on the expertise of Ian
its quiz. Students learn from people with different levels Davies, founder member of Central
Given the size of the learning disability of impairment in a variety of life circumstances England People First and co-chair of the
workforce in England – 660,000 – these Social History of Learning Disability
are impressive figures. An evaluation was Most people studying the course were Research Group. He advised on the
completed by 825 students. staff who were doing it for professional content and on accessibility. Endorsement
Although the course is advertised as development. Many said they would from Learning Disability England, one of
being for people with a learning disability, consider further study on learning whose trustees had reviewed it with
and their relatives and friends as well as disability with the Open University having enthusiasm, was a welcome boost.
paid staff, the majority of those completed this introductory course. Of course, there are challenges.
completing the evaluation were workers. More than 90% were intending to tell Although aimed at the four countries of
Feedback was very positive. More their employer that they had achieved the the UK – as well as an international
than 95% reported that the course course completion badge, although there audience – policy divergences between
had helped them to understand how are indications that people were choosing the four nations make it difficult to
to support people with learning to study the course rather being asked to achieve comprehensive coverage.
disabilities. Most found the content do so by an employer. Only a small Inevitably, because England’s population
interesting, useful, engaging and minority did the course at work, with is larger and as the authors and
important, and thought the course was most studying at home. contributors are based there, English
the right length. It also attracted people who are legislation and assumptions prevail.
Comments collected in the evaluation considering work in the sector – 14% of Moreover, although the course is itself
indicate some students valued it highly: respondents put themselves in this group. Covid proof as it is online, it does not
cover the hugely important role of digital
“As a recently qualified health Built on people’s stories connectivity since the pandemic. If it were
professional, I covered some aspects What distinguishes this course from being designed today, thinking creatively
of learning disabilities within my vocationally oriented courses in the about digital connectivity would feature
university course. However, it did not learning disability field? much more prominently.
cover the breadth of information and We recall the breakthrough moment Using online communication in
did not give me an understanding of came at drawing-board stage when we producing the course would also have
people with learning disabilities’ lives as consulted members of Central England allowed the voices of people in more
this course did. I think this course People First about what should go into distant parts of the UK to be heard.
should be compulsory training for all the course. At a day-long workshop, The popularity of this course suggests
healthcare professionals.” the strong message from these self- there is an appetite for learning in the
advocates was that it had to start with sector that goes beyond directly vocational
“It’s one of the best courses I have people’s stories. Simple advice – and courses. Some creative thinking about
done. Thank you to all involved.” it worked. using this free course might lead to new
The format of the course relies heavily avenues for attracting and retaining people
“I would highly recommend this course. on videos. These feature a cast of in this notoriously hard to staff sector. n
As someone who relies on benefits, I’m characters, members of the Access All l Exploring Learning Disabilities: Supporting
very grateful to be able to access Areas learning disabled theatre company Belonging is available via OpenLearn at:
excellent quality materials for free, as and the My Life My Choice self-advocacy https://tinyurl.com/y6zsmnmd
I simply can’t afford to pay.” body – Shaun, Dayo, Charlene, Terry and Liz Tilley is senior lecturer in the Faculty of
Drazen/Getty Images “I absolutely loved it – it expanded my disabilities and speak for themselves Health and Social Care at the Open
Cian. All have relatively mild learning

University; Jan Walmsley is visiting
knowledge and I learnt more than I ever about having a learning disability,
professor in the history of learning
relationships, health, education
anticipated and it made me want to
disabilities at the Open University
explore more. Thank you.”
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk and rights. Community Living Vol 34 No 3 | Spring 2021 15