Learning disabilities and autism

Our programme is about making health and care services better so that more people with a learning disability, autism or both can live in the community, with the right support, and close to home.

Learning disabilities

A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things, they are different for everyone and no two people are the same.

A person with a learning disability might have some challenges:
Understanding complicated information
Learning some skills
Looking after themselves or living alone

We offer annual health checks are for people aged 14 and over who have a learning disability. A health check once a year gives people time to talk about anything that is worrying them and means they can get used to going to visit the doctor.

Find out more about annual health checks on the NHS England website. This includes information on who’s eligible, how it will help, how to get an appointment, and what happens during the health check. You can also read this leaflet about annual health checks for young people with learning disabilities.

Autism

People with autism may find it difficult to communicate and interact with people and understand how other people think or feel. Experiences like bright lights or loud noises can be overwhelming or stressful. They can become anxious in unfamiliar situations and take longer to understand information.

Lincolnshire Autism Strategy

This strategy has been created with input from autistic people of all ages, family and carers, together with professionals from across Lincolnshire’s Integrated Care System (ICS). It is an updated version of the previous Lincolnshire All-Age Autism Strategy 2019-2022. It considers new national guidance and evidence, alongside changing national, regional and local contexts.

Autism Strategy 2023 to 2028

Autism Strategy 2023 to 2028 (Accessible version)

Improving health outcomes

Supporting GP practices to improve care quality and patient experience

GP practices are critically important in supporting people with a Learning Disability (LD) to manage their health and obtain access to the health care they need. Find out about the Learning Disability Friendly GP Practice Quality Mark.

Learning from lives and deaths – People with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR)

The LeDeR programme looks to learn from the lives and deaths of people with a Learning Disability and / or autism, and uses the knowledge obtained from LeDeR reviews to improve services and reduce health inequalities.

Health inequalities are unfair differences that are seen when someone receives healthcare and this can lead to poorer outcomes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Experts by Experience are involved in every part of the Lincolnshire LeDeR programme to make sure the voices of people with Learning Disabilities and Autistic Adults are heard

Our local report sets out our local responses to what we have found out from our LeDeR reviews, what we can learn from them and how we can make changes to make services better in the future.

Transforming care

Transforming care is a national programme all about making health and care services better so that more people with a learning disability, autism or both can live in the community, with the right support, and close to home.

Below are two Lincolnshire case studies about how services are changing to make this happen and how real people are having their lives and care transformed.

Support is available in Lincolnshire

In Lincolnshire, we offer a range of services to support people with learning disabilities in the community, as well as autism diagnosis and post diagnosis support for autistic people.

The service works with service users, families, social care and health partners to enable adults with a learning disability and/or autism living in Lincolnshire to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Learning Disabilities and Autism :: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust.