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Housing LIN supports Learning Disability Awareness Week, championing independent living choices

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Hosted by Mencap, Learning Disability Awareness Week (19 - 25 June) is an opportunity to make sure the world hears what life is like if you have a learning disability. The Housing LIN is committed to supporting supporting the Network's members, commissioners and providers to improve the independent living choices of people with learning disabilities.

Thanks to the generous support of Golden Lane Housing, we host a diverse range of useful resources, tools and good practice examples, all aimed at promoting greater choices and improved living standards for people with learning disabilities and autism. 

HAPPI Hour webinar

To coincide with Learning Disability Awareness Week, we would like to invite you to join us for tomorrow's HAPPI Hour (Tuesday, 20 June 2023) session with West Waddy Archadia (WWA) architects on Informed Design within Learning Disabilities Environments.

Discover their innovative projects in supported housing, where WWA collaborates with psychologists to develop housing with enhanced psychological benefits. Inspired by 'Trauma Informed Design' from the USA, WWA's new guide focuses on adapting architectural interventions for supported housing, specifically for people with learning disabilities.

We look forward to welcoming: 

  • Jill Pable – University Professor at Florida State University and founder of Design Resources for Homelessness
  • Patricia Mazure – Clinical Psychologist, Founder of Havenstone Housing and Empowered Homes
  • Mark Slater, Design Director, West Waddy Archadia
  • Kathryn Gundry, Design Associate, West Waddy Archadia

Research 

We would also like to bring your attention to the "Housing for people with Learning Disabilities: Renting Your Own Place Research" project.

This project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, School for Social Care Research, and is a collaboration between researchers from the University of York and the University of Bristol, housing provider Riverside, Learning Disability England, doodler and community printmaker Stephen Lee Hodgkins, and the Housing LIN. The project team also includes an advisory group of people with learning disabilities who rent their own homes and are part of self-advocacy groups such as York People First and My Life, My Choice.

The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of how people with learning disabilities, who are on the "edges" of social care, can receive improved support to access and enjoy living in their own tenancies within the community.

After the successful virtual research launch last month, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting an in-person launch later this year. Stay tuned for more updates!