In March, a group of Leading Lives employees and customers attended the “Can you feel the love” accessible conference for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. This was in Camden central London.
Organised by Choice Support and part of the Supported Loving Network, the conference brought researchers and people with disabilities together to discuss how they can have better relationships and talk about sex.
This is something Leading Lives has been championing through our Support with Relationships & Sexuality training and roll out in our service lines.
The conference covered topics ranging from supporting autistic adults with intimate lives and LGBTQ+ relationships, to dating agencies for people with learning disabilities and being safe online.
Our customers, including a married couple from our Supported independence service thoroughly enjoyed interactive discussion and information about:
- Understanding different types of relationships (friendships, romantic)
- Recognising signs of abusive relationships and how to get help.
- How culture can impact on a relationship based on ethnicity & religion.
For some people it was their first trip to London and their first time using the London Underground. After the conference everyone headed to Leicester Square for some retail therapy and a fantastic meal at the famous Hard Rock Café.
Whilst there, they talked about their favourite parts of the day.
One customer said his favourite part was “coming to London for the first time ever, with my wife”, whilst one of our team members said that her best bit was “being able to support 3 customers in London and learn more about Supported loving research”
For information about people with disabilities having positive relationships see the Choice Support website: https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/
