What it means to come out of lockdown

Wordless stories to help children returning to school from Books Beyond Words – easy read.

Schools re-opening: information relevant to children and young people with severe learning disabilities – an information sheet from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation.

Recovery, Re-introduction and Renewal: Safe and Successful Returns to School – a handbook from Whole School SEND designed to help schools and education settings through Covid-19 and beyond.

Mencap have published easy read guides about:

• Travelling safely
• Going to work safely
• Going to a funeral
• Top tips for keeping safe

Coronavirus resource hub including audio and video resources, and a weekly news update, from Inclusion North.

Keeping safe from Coronavirus for adults who have Down Syndrome

Date: 3/11/2020

The Chief Medical Officers from across the UK have said that adults who have Down’s syndrome are to be added to the group of people who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable. This means that they have been classed as at higher risk for coronavirus.

People who are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group are advised to be extra careful in protecting themselves.

You can read more about the decision and what it means in this information from NHS England and the government by clicking here

The Easy read of the information on what this means is here

You can see some questions and answers on what it means to be clinically extremely vulnerable here

GPs will be getting in touch with patients who have Downs Syndrome over the next few weeks. They will talk to people about what this means for them.

There is an easy read letter that GPs will send to people. There is a copy of that letter here

You can read the letter that was sent to GPs telling them what to do here – read the letter.

If you do not hear from your GP in the next few weeks you should get in touch with them.

The Government will also be writing to care providers and letting them know what they will need to do. You can read that letter here.

From Thursday all people who are extremely clinically vulnerable are being advised to take extra care. This was called shielding

You can read about that government advice and what you might do if you are extremely clinically vulnerable here

The Downs Syndrome Association have information and resources for people with Down Syndrome and their families on their website here

These include

Sam’s video explaining what it means to be extremely clinically vulnerable

3 guides on

Staying Safe

Staying well and healthy

Supporting me to make a decision: a quick guide

They are also hosting a free seminar on Thursday (5 November) Supporting you to make decisions.

Wearing face coverings

A face covering is something which covers your nose and mouth. It doesn’t have to be a mask. It can be anything that covers your nose and mouth.

Some people do not have symptoms so they can spread Coronavirus without knowing.

Face coverings are to stop you from accidentally spreading the virus.

The government has made new rules about wearing face coverings in public places to help protect people from Coronavirus.

Some people do not have to wear a face covering for health reasons.

Read the full government guidance about face coverings.

This includes when you have to wear a face covering and who is exempt for health reasons.

It also tells you how to make your own face covering.

Here is the government exemption card for you to upload on your mobile phone

Here is the government exemption card for you to print

Social distancing

Easy read on some of the rules that have changed – by Mencap. Talks about the 6 people rule, your support bubble and going out and about.

Updated Guidance around social distancing and meeting with others – You must follow this guidance from Monday 14th September.

Social distancing is to try and stop the virus spreading to other people.

The government says we should stay two metres (three steps) apart from people we don’t live in the same house with.

We should also take other measures like washing our hands and covering our faces.

The guidance is still important even though we are now moving out of lockdown. 

Staying alert and safe – social distancing guidance (Updated 31 July 2020).

This tells you about the new rules on social distancing indoors and outdoors.

Optional badges that can be used to show the carrier may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing

This tells you about the new rules on social distancing when you are spending time with people you don’t live with.

Guidance about funerals during Coronavirus from Public Health England.

The government have not yet published easy read information about the new rules on social distancing.

We will update this page when they do.

In the meantime you can see other resources about social distancing and the new rules here

Self-isolation

The government says that people who think they might have the virus or have some of the symptoms need to stay at home for 7 days.

Anyone who has been in close contact with a person who tests positive for Coronavirus needs to stay at home for 14 days. 

This is called self-isolation. 

You might get a phone call from test and trace if you have been in contact with someone who has the virus.

Easy read guidance for people who need to self-isolate

Public Health England have made a useful poster about self isolation.

This is useful if you think you might have the virus or if you have have been in contact with someone else who has symptoms of Coronavirus.

This is guidance for people who think they might have the virus or have some of the symptoms. It is also for people who have been in direct contact with someone with coronavirus.

Government guidance for people who need to self isolate

Easy Read posters from Photosymbols on the latest guidance including testing and shielding.

Easy read information on face coverings made by Mencap

Social Story on why people are wearing masks

Public Health England have made a useful poster about self isolation if you think you might have the virus or have been in contact with someone else who has symptoms of coronavirus. You can see this below:

Archive of old guidance documents

The Coronavirus situation keeps changing all the time. On this page you will find older guidance documents which are now out of date. But you might still find them useful.

NHS services access during Coronavirus guidance – full and easy readversions.

NHS guidance about discharge from hospital during Covid 19.

The Office for National Statistics published Coronavirus (COVID-19) related mortality by religion, ethnicity and disability: England and Wales, 2 March 2020 to 15 May

Government guidance about staying home

Government guidance for social care including guidance on residential, supported living and home care settings.

Coming out of shielding

If you have a serious illnesses or health condition, you might have been asked to shield to protect yourself from Coronavirus.

This means staying at home and not seeing anybody unless you have to.

The advice about shielding is now changing. And everyone’s health conditions and support needs are different.

If you are unsure about whether you should still be shielding, ask your doctor or consultant.

Latest guidance on shielding – full version (Updated 4 August 2020)

This guidance is for adults and children in England who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

If you’re clinically extremely vulnerable you should have received a letter confirming this or have been told directly by your GP or hospital clinician.

Easy read guidance on shielding from Public Health England. (Updated August 2020)

If you are confused or unsure about what to do, ask your GP.