Focusing on children

In the past, Learning Disability Today London has concentrated on issues for adults with learning disabilities. However, as many of these issues can be addressed by successful joint working across adult and children's services we felt it was time to expand the event to include everyone working with and caring for children with learning disabilities.

The largest event of its kind in the sector, last year's exhibition attracted over 100 exhibitors and over 3,500 visitors. The Learning Disability Today experience is about showcasing best practice, having fun and celebrating the achievements of people with learning disabilities and those working in the field. As well as the usual range of product and service providers from the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors, this year there will also be an exhibition of organisations that work to improve the lives of children with learning disabilities. A special seminar programme will focus on the health and social care issues for children with learning disabilities, such as the transition from children's to adult services.

Who should visit?

Frontline staff working with children and young people with learning disabilities including those from:

• special schools
• voluntary groups
• Sure Starts
• local authorities
• NHS trusts
• parents and carers.

The children's seminar themes will cover current key topics including:

• rights to participation
• enabling disabled children and their parents to engage in the design of services and to access universal services
• short breaks
• transforming local short break services
• transition
• implementing the transition support programme and what it will mean for families and service providers
• direct payments and individual budgets
• implementing pilot individual budget schemes to give choice of care to disabled children and their carers.

Click here to download the Children's zone flyer