Resources about my rights and the law

BIHR Reports on the Impact of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 for the human rights of people with care and support needs. Includes easy read versions.

 Resources and guidance specifically for families, including FAQs about the Coronavirus law and emergency powers, from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation.

Online resource called My Own Front Door, particularly useful for families, which includes information and ‘livestreams’ on the Care Act Easements and Emergency Powers. From #RightfulLives

Briefings on coronavirus, the law and Human Rights from the British Institute of Human Rights.

Information about the extra help the government has put in place around paying bills, sick pay and benefit entitlements from Citizens Advice.

Resources for advocacy organisations and those who support self-advocates from Voiceability.

Our resources on Disabled people’s rights, DNAR  and Covid-19

Activities and events to join in online

Online dance sessions on Zoom from Dance Syndrome. *Sign up by 9th September for a block of 6 classes at £2.50 per session – street, contemporary or rave*

Everybody Dance is pay as you go. Wake N Dance and Infants are FREE.

Every session is inclusive, co-produced and co-delivered by a Dance Leader with learning disabilities and a professionally trained Dance Artist.

Find out more on their website.

Online yoga sessions weekly at 2pm on a Wednesday from Speak Up. Please email annie@speakup.org.uk if you would like the Zoom link to join the sessions – everyone is most welcome.

Online actor training from Dark Horse Theatre, a leader in providing vocational actor training for adults with learning disabilities.

Their YouTube Channel has easy to follow exercise and actor training videos, including tutorials in movement, voice and character work.

Online creative arts sessions from Level. There are two different Zoom sessions:

Performing Arts: Tuesdays 14.00 – 15.00
Visual Arts: Wednesdays 14.00 – 15.00

The Gr8 Chat and Brew is a way to help people meet up online using WhatsApp. It has been started by Paradigm and the Gr8 Support Movement but anyone can join in.

Listings of upcoming webinars, meetings and discussions from the Centre for Welfare Reform.

Coronavirusfest is an online music festival from Gig Buddies, hosted on their Facebook page.

Click Together are a virtual community that runs an extensive timetable of 20 sessions each week across daytimes evenings and weekends too. Their sessions welcome anyone aged 16+ who has a learning disability and or is autistic.

The Buzz from Community Catalysts has daily videos with different accessible and fun activities such as yoga, cooking and boxercise! You can watch the videos by joining their Facebook group or their smallgoodstuff website here .

Ideas for fun activities that would work for families or staff teams, from Achieve Together.

Opportunity TV from Camphill has lots of videos and tutorials from cooking to gardening.

Guides to help with technology

Carers can apply for a FREE data-enabled iPad – If you work in, or have family in, a care home you can apply for one to help facilitate your residents’ access to clinical services and contact with family.

Cue cards to use in Zoom and other online meetings from Keep Safe.

Tutorial about how to set up and use Zoom from People in Action.

Video guide to Zoom from All Abilities Advocacy.

The Advocacy Communication Project has published its findings on The Future of Self Advocacy and Zoom.

There are interesting videos from around the world including Andrew Lee from People First here in the UK.

Find out more about the project and watch the videos here

Virtual session on setting up WhatsApp groups aimed at people with learning disabilities and / or autism but suitable for everyone. From Sunderland People First and Media Savvy CIC.

Guide to WhatsApp, a free app that allows you to make free calls and message individual people and groups of people – easy read.

Guide to Microsoft Teams from Ace Anglia – easy read

Guide to shopping online from EasyRead.Info – easy read

Knowing the facts about coronavirus

Jordan from Dimensions UK talks about coronavirus

Mencap easy read information about coronavirus

Keep Safe have posters – about all aspects of coronavirus from what it is, to specific information about getting a vaccine

Pathways video explaining about the latest lockdown (January 2021)

Government information about increased death rates for people with learning disabilities from coronavirus

BBC information about death rates amongst people with learning disabilities and access to testing

A blog from Professor Chris Hatton – about death rates of among people with learning disabilities from coronavirus

Knowing the facts about vaccines

What the vaccine is – video from NHS England

Video information about the covid vaccine: For people with a learning disability and autistic people – from NHS England

Q&A Vaccine video – from the chair of the COVID-19 Social Care Taskforce

Coronavirus vaccinations: a video guide for people with learning disabilities and carers – from NHS Devon CCG

Information and resources to support roll out of COVID-19 vaccination – from the North East and Cumbria Learning Disability Network

Covid-19 vaccines – Frequently asked questions answered by Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam

Coronavirus vaccine: Easy Read – from Down’s Syndrome Association

Coronavirus vaccine Easy Read resources – from Mencap

Vaccine information for siblings – from Sibs UK

Covid-19 vaccination: your questions answered – from Contact (for families with disabled children)

Covid-19 vaccination programme – What do I need to know? – a blog from The Disability Unit

In conversation about the pandemic and Covid-19 Vaccine roll-out– a video from Dimensions UK

Covid-19 vaccination: British Sign Language resources

Beating the virus – wordless story from Books Beyond Words

Knowing if someone should not have the coronavirus vaccine

NHS England guidance about COVID vaccine

Improving identification of people with a learning disability: guidance for general practice – NHS England and Improvement guidance

COVID-19 vaccine deployment programme: unpaid carers (JCVI priority cohort 6)

COVID-19 vaccinations for community-based social care workers

Making a decision to have the coronavirus vaccine

Everyone working in care homes to be fully vaccinated under new law to protect residents

Mencap easy read frequently asked questions about the coronavirus vaccine

Public Health England easy read guide to the coronavirus vaccine

Government guidance about the Mental Capacity Act and coronavirus

Information about Mental Capacity Act and ‘best-interests’ decision from Essex Chambers

Improving identification of people with a learning disability: guidance for general practice – NHS England and Improvement guidance

Preparing to get the vaccine

How to reassure people about getting the COVID vaccine – from DHSC Adult Social Care

COVID-19 vaccination training for clinicians– from NHS England

Supporting parent carers and those with a learning disability to access the Covid 19 Vaccination – webpage from PACC

Ciara talks about getting her vaccine – a video from Mencap

Emily talks about getting her vaccine – a video from Skills for People

Shamima and Yasmin talk about getting the vaccine

A guide for supporters on how to make sure you are on the learning disability register with your GP – from Mencap

How you will be contacted for your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter – NHS letter inviting eligible adults to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

Government guidance about the priority groups

Information about booking your vaccination – from Suffolk Learning Disability Partnership Board

Getting the vaccine

A video on having the coronavirus vaccine in the community – from Photosymbols

Having a coronavirus vaccine – animated video from Dimensions UK

What happens at the vaccination centre – from Oxford Health

Vaccine in a car park video – from Heart News

Liverpool vaccine clinic for learning disabled people – Guardian article

A guide to your coronavirus vaccine – from Public Health England

Information about coronavirus vaccine from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation