Advice requested on learning disability assessment for adult and support

Lex7

Hi, I'm posting on behalf of my partner. He would like to get help and I want to help him but am unsure what to do. He is 39 and has a learning disability of some kind - definitely severe dyslexia, and he went to some kind of specific school, but he is very unclear as to what, apart from dyslexia, his learning disability is. He was adopted, had a difficult time with adopted parents, has no documentation and no qualifications. He is on benefits, (I'm not familiar with the system, but nothing to do with his learning disability) but over the years, he has apparently done various kinds of work, such as security. It all seems to be very short-lived and I don't think he has ever received the help he needs. He is a strong guy, very kind and very personable, he doesn't appear to have a learning disability until he is spoken to about certain issues. I would really like to ensure he has a proper assessment and receives support of some kind (if it exists) for work or a course of some kind, and he wants to - but because the issue he has is not so severe, yet is certainly severe enough to have hampered his progress in life, he appears to have just been left to flounder. I've tried to contacting the authorities but the only option they've pointed me in is a private assessment. As he's not wealthy, is there another option? My concern is that with more "mild" learning disabilities, people are just left to cope alone - and often badly, without support. Does anyone have advice or could point me in the direction of help? In Manchester. I'm fully aware of the issues with PIP. Thank you.

rubin16

Hi welcome to the community,

Its hard to offer advice without knowing exactly what areas your partner struggles with, as assessments are specialised to a particular condition. What difficulties does your partner have exactly?

chiarieds

Hi @Lex7 - welcome to the community & thank you for joining. I may only be able to help with a little of this in mentioning that Scope have several employment services. I've heard very good things about the 'Support to Work' programme, but, as you live in the Manchester area, 'Starting Line' is also a possibility. There's more info here: https://www.scope.org.uk/employment-services/

Lex7

Hi, thank you for answering; yes, of course, you're right. So, he definitely has severe dyslexia. He is very clear on this. What I find difficult to work out is: he is ultra-aware of his surroundings, good at reading people, very streetwise and practical (good with things like putting simple furniture together). Yet he does not understand anything slightly "complicated" - if there is a news story, for example, he doesn't seem to be able to grasp what is going on. If he has to call the bank, for example, he has trouble explaining his situation clearly and relies on the bank staff to pick up on what he needs. I'm unable to work out precisely what the difficulty is. I know he went to a school for pupils with special educational needs. But it was so long ago he has no information. I would really like to help him, he has just been left because to a certain extent, he can cope independently, but not enough to be on the same level as those without difficulties.

Lex7

Hi @chiarieds - thank you for welcoming me, I'm pleased to join. Thank you so much for the link, I will check this and the possibilities it might offer him.

rubin16

Hi,

Becuase we can't pin point his exact difficulties the only thing I can think of suggesting is him speaking to his GP and getting a referral to a psychologist/psychiatrist who should be able to speak to him and try pin point his difficulties and will be able to refer him to the appropriate services for a diagnostic assessment.

Its definatley worth persueing a diagnosis of some kind as it will enable alot of support services to help, and also give you some closure knowing what exactly is going on.

All the best.

chiarieds

Hi @Lex7 - you're welcome, & I hope your partner tries one of Scope's schemes....after all they understand about disability, & will help. Kindly let us all know how he gets on. My best wishes.

Lex7

Hi chiarieds and rubin16, thank you - we will try his GP again. Prior to Covid, they were extremely unhelpful, and pursuing this has since been on hold due to the pandemic. We will try the GP again. Thank you for your advice.