Dual Disability Practice: Working Alongside People with Intellectual & Cognitive Disability and co-occurring Mental Health Conditions

People with intellectual & cognitive disability are more likely than the general population to experience mental health conditions; but are less likely to receive mental health diagnosis, treatment and care.

Social workers across a range of settings can support improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people with intellectual and cognitive disability, including mental health prevention, early intervention, crisis response, and recovery support.

The training will present knowledge and creative strategies for better understanding and responding to people with dual disability. Webinar content will include:

· Historical and contemporary lived experience of dual disability, including hearing from a co-presenter with lived experience.

· An integrated framework for dual disability practice (Relationship Based; Disability Informed, Trauma Informed, and Capacity Building).

· Intersecting individual and social factors that structure the lived experience of intellectual & cognitive disability, increase risk of poor mental health outcomes, and create barriers to effective support.

· Effective communication with people with intellectual and cognitive disability (making the abstract concrete; taking time; developing shared language).

· Skills and strategies for a holistic approach to wellbeing across the mental health continuum (prevention; early intervention; crisis response; recovery).

Who should attend?

This webinar offers an interactive learning opportunity for social work practitioners, and general practitioners. Futhermore, this caters for practitioners that are looking to deepen their knowledge, skills and confidence to support people with dual disability. It identifies their ability to recognise and respond to mental health needs of people with intellectual and cognitive disability.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

· To develop an understanding of the lived experience of people with dual disability.

· To develop an of individual and social factors impacting mental health risk and creating barriers to mental health support.

· To recognise mental health issues in people with intellectual or cognitive disability and develop appropriate interventions (brief/medium/longer term).

· To build knowledge and skills for effective communication with people with dual disability to support improved mental health knowledge and outcomes.

· To develop strategies for adapting current practice in creative ways to better responding to people with dual disability.

Can't attend live?

Your registration includes a copy of the presentation slides and 2 weeks' free access to the event recording.

Presenters

Sarah MacDonald

Sarah MacDonald is a Social Worker and Team Leader at Community Living Association in Nundah, Brisbane. CLA uses a relationship based, disability and trauma informed, capacity building approach to support people with intellectual and cognitive disabilities and young people at risk to get the most from their lives. Sarah has worked in direct practice, research, and governance roles alongside people with intellectual disability for over 20 years.

Sabrina Stokes

Sabrina Stokes is a Social Worker and Team Leader at Community Living Association in Nundah, Brisbane. Sabrina has been working to create change on both individual and systemic levels for children, young people and families for the past twenty years in roles in community, government, schools, private business, vocational and tertiary institutions. Sabrina is passionate and committed to supporting professionals who are being part of a positive change for children, families and communities.