COVID-19: supporting adults with learning disabilities & autistic adults

World Autism Awareness Week 2021 was during 29 March 2021 – 4 April 2021.

It aims to bring attention to the 700,000 people in the UK who are autistic, whilst educating people about the condition.

As part of raising awareness we wanted to highlight the guidance produced by the Department of Health and Social Care.

It builds on the COVID-19 adult social care action plan and more detailed guidance published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence to  support those who care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

The advice and resources may also be helpful for those supporting people with other needs relating to a cognitive impairment, such as dementia or mental health conditions.

The guidance will help those staff to:

  • Keep people with learning disabilities and autistic people safe
  • Support them to understand the changes they need to make during the COVID-19 outbreak
  • Protect their own wellbeing

The guidance was updated on 31 March 2021, to reflect easing of some COVID-19 restrictions from 29 March 2021.

The revised guidance can be accessed here.