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Abacus Care & Support is kicking off its ‘Important Days’ series with January 4th: World Braille Day.  Read on to learn about Braille’s fascinating history, use and importance.  –  Braille is a system of communication which uses raised dots to enable users to read and write via touch, rather than sight. Its inventor, Louis Braille, paved the way for millions of blind and visually impaired people to access written language with autonomy and independence. On what would have been Louis Braille’s 216th birthday, let’s reflect on the immense impact of his invention and the enduring relevance of Braille today.    Braille’s inventor: Louis Braille  Louis Braille was born in Coupvray, France, in 1809. Braille lost his sight at the age of three, when he suffered an accident whilst playing with his father’s tools. Braille was a bright and inquisitive child, and at the age of ten received a scholarship to attend the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris. At the time, books for blind people featured raised print of traditional lettering, but this was difficult to use and labour-intensive to produce. In pursuit of a simpler, more efficient method, Braille began to develop his now-famous tactile code at just 15 years old.  Braille was inspired to develop his own method after learning about Charles Barbier’s ‘Ecriture Nocturne’ or ‘night writing’. Featuring raised dots, this was a military code designed to be read without light, so that soldiers could avoid lighting a lamp (and consequently identifying themselves to the enemy) whilst reading important messages. Braille sought to develop a simpler code, notably halving the number of dots in each cell to sit more comfortably underneath the fingertip. The system he designed contained many combinations of raised dots within cells which represent letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and even entire words in shorthand.  The Evolution of Braille  Throughout the rest of his life, Braille perfected and taught his method of communication. It was not until 1854, two years after Braille’s death, that his system was officially adopted at the National Institute for Blind Youth. In the decades following, the system became further refined and gained wide usage, ultimately being used all over the world.  You may be surprised to learn that Braille is not a language. Rather, it is a universal system which corresponds uniquely to the literacy of individual written/spoken languages. In other words, the cell combinations available in the Braille system always remain the same, but what those cells mean (individually and in their given order) depends on the language of the user. The Importance of Braille Today  Despite the rise of digital assistive technologies, Braille continues to be a fundamental tool for blind and visually impaired individuals, especially in education and the workplace.  In fact, research shows that blind and visually impaired Braille users often have higher levels of education and better employment prospects than those who do not use the system. Why? Because Braille empowers its users to be literate, enabling an autonomous grasp on grammar, syntax, punctuation and comprehension.  Braille and Technology: A Perfect Match  Braille is not an outdated system. It has adapted to, and been enhanced by, the digital age. Technological devices such as refreshable Braille displays connect to computers, smartphones, and tablets, providing readable Braille output in real-time, allowing users to access digital content. Additionally, Braille writing devices enable users to write with ease, offering a tactile alternative to traditional keyboards.  Whether used on paper or via electronic devices, Braille is much more than a communication tool; for its inventor it was a show of incredible creative perseverance, to its users it is the key to autonomy, and to the rest of the world it is a powerful statement of inclusion.  –  As a supported living provider, Abacus is passionate about empowering individuals to access the care and support which helps them to live a fulfilling and independent life. We recognise that communication exists in many forms, and are committed to embracing and supporting the various communication needs of the people we support. Whether it’s through speech, touch, sign language, visual aids, or digital technology, we understand that effective and meaningful communication is unique to each individual.  –  Want to learn more? Watch one of the fascinating videos which informed this post:  THE BOY WHO INVENTED BRAILLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BOQ6IpTSE&t=121s    IS BRAILLE STILL RELEVANT?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhHmFHadlEo   READING WITHOUT SIGHT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mzhn7InWDg  –  Articles which informed this post:  https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/braille/what-braille https://www.rncb.ac.uk/event-item.aspx?id=57 https://brailleworks.com/braille-resources/history-of-braille/ https://www.afb.org/about-afb/history/online-museums/life-and-legacy-louis-braille/braille-nvents-his-code https://www.afb.org/about-afb/history/online-museums/life-and-legacy-louis-braille/braille-recognized https://www.britannica.com/topic/Braille-writing-system https://www.sense.org.uk/information-and-advice/ways-of-communicating/braille/ https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/education-and-learning/braille-tactile-codes/braille-music/ https://www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/health-social-care-education-professionals/knowledge-and-research-hub/reports-and-insight/reading-and-braille-research/#:~:text=Around%20seven%20per%20cent%20of,or%20partially%20sighted%20use%20braille. https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/two-centuries-later-braille-is-still-as-important-as-ever-says-teenage-sight-loss-campaigner/#:~:text=According%20to%20RNIB%2C%20only%20seven,who%20learn%20to%20read%20it. https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/blog/why-learning-braille-is-still-important https://legobraillebricks.com/blog/brailleadvocacy https://www.perkins.org/four-reasons-why-braille-still-matters-in-the-age-of-alexa-and-iphone/ https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm06/bm0609/bm060905.htm https://museelouisbraille.com/en/le-braille-aujourd-hui

Around the UK, and indeed the world, individuals and communities are mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.   During her 70-year reign the Queen was patron to more than 600 charities and organisations, a number of which do vital work within the healthcare sector. The Queen demonstrated her support to those who give and receive care in numerous ways: at visits, grand openings, through letters and more. In fact, during the Covid pandemic in 2020, the Queen took part in her first official-duty video conference to mark Carers Week, in which she spoke to personal care givers about their experiences.   As we reflect on the Queen’s life as an organisation, we ask the question:   What in Her Majesty’s long and full life can inspire the work of Abacus Care & Support?   The Queen’s life was one of stability, service and ‘showing up’.   Stability   Until now, Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch most of us have known. Amidst great triumphs and tragedies, the Queen consistently and calmly addressed the world with messages of thanks, congratulations and condolences.   We all receive comfort from the stability of people and things. At Abacus we aim to provide stability for clients through consistent staffing and at-home support.   Service   The Queen frequently spoke of her commitment to serving the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. She promised her devotion to service in a now-famous speech on her 21st birthday, and reiterated the sentiment throughout her life.   Serving is about supporting the needs of others. Our goal at Abacus is to recognise people’s needs and address them well.   ‘Showing Up’   Collectively, the Royal Family attends over 2,000 official engagements each year. The Queen visited at least 117 countries during her lifetime, attended national and local events and even made a few surprise appearances. Despite her increasing frailty in recent years, the Queen committed to showing up for the people she served.   At Abacus, we ‘show up’ by providing necessary assistance: with medication, mealtimes, hygiene etc. But we also ‘show up’ simply by being there for our colleagues and clients. We’re there for one another when things are easy or difficult. We ‘show up’ not only by doing, but by being.   News of the Queen’s death is likely to invoke a range of emotional responses. Perhaps we feel sad, nostalgic or indifferent. Varied responses are expected and valid. There is always something to learn from the lives of others, particularly when a life is long-lived.   Our hope is that throughout Abacus’ own lifespan, we can strive for and be known by our stability, service, and dedication to ‘showing up’.   This post was written by Amy Bianchi

*LGBTQI+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex. The ‘+’ is a symbol used to include those with other identifying terms. As Pride month draws to a close, we delve into the issues surrounding being a person with a learning disability who identifies as LGBTQI+. What is Pride month? In the UK, the month of June is celebrated by many as ‘Pride Month’. During June, many individuals, organisations and charities advocate for LGBTQI+ acceptance and equality, promote the education of LGBTQI+ history and issues, and celebrate sexuality and gender-based diversity. Discrimination against LGBTQI+ identifying individuals is, sadly, not uncommon. People who are LGBTQI+ and have a learning disability can face unique and additional challenges. What can the challenges look like? People with Learning Disabilities who are LGBTQI+ find themselves in more than one minority group which commonly experiences discrimination. This can contribute to an individual’s reluctance or fearfulness about discussing their feelings. Many people with learning disabilities have not been taught – or included in conversations – about the sexual and gender-based issues/feelings they experience. Today, children in mainstream and special schools are expected to receive appropriate sex and relationship education. But the reality is that many people with learning disabilities who are adults now, did not receive that kind of learning when they were at school. People with learning disabilities can be inaccurately perceived or treated as a-sexual. Sometimes people with learning disabilities are not included in conversations about gender or sexuality because people assume that they do not experience certain issues or feelings. Not only is this a false assumption, this attitude can also contribute to confusion, isolation, loneliness and feelings of being misunderstood. A learning-disabled person’s communication skills, cognitive abilities or capacity for consent might make conversations about gender and sexuality difficult or awkward for those in their support network. Accessible gender and sexuality education and advice is drastically under-resourced. It is not surprising that those who might want to help their friend, loved-one or service user navigate these issues often feel ill-equipped to do so. What can be done? Support staff and carers can encourage appropriate communication about gender, sexuality and relationships and support healthy expression of these things. The Care Quality Commission (the independent regulator of health and social care in England) has recently updated its guidance to outline its expectations for care providers when it comes to relationships and sexuality. It covers many issues, including supporting people to establish and maintain healthy relationships, while also helping individuals to understand risks. The guidance also refers to the importance of care providers fostering an environment which is non-discriminatory towards those who identify as LGBTQI+. You can read the publication for yourself to understand what is expected of care providers, including Abacus. (Click for easy read version) We can educate ourselves and learn more about what it is like to be LGBTQI+ and have a learning disability. Unfortunately, information is scarce when it comes to exploring this topic. However, there are some helpful resources which have informed this blog post, in which people with learning disabilities speak about their experiences: one is a BBC Sounds podcast, another is a video commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence. People with and without learning disabilities can engage in appropriate communication together. If you are somebody with a learning disability who identifies as LGBTQI+, or is questioning their gender or sexuality, it is a good idea to speak to somebody you trust about the support you are looking for. If you’re not sure what it is you want, you could begin by saying you’d like to spend more time thinking about this together. If you support someone with a learning disability, it is important to communicate patiently, compassionately and in a way which is appropriate to their additional needs. You may find it useful to explore this topic using specially designed publications: LGTBQ+ Easy Read guide, Jan’s story (lesbian photo-story), Phil’s story (gay photo-story)   Everybody deserves to be treated with respect and compassion when it comes to expressing and discussing their gender, sexuality and relationships. This is equally true for people with learning disabilities. We hope this blog post contributes helpfully to the much-needed discourse about this topic. This blog post has been influenced by a number of additional sources which have received in-text citation via hyperlinks. Additional resources include: CHANGE – ‘Out spoken’ project | https://www.changepeople.org/our-work/outspoken BBC – Pride month: ‘Being disabled and gay – I’ve faced barriers’ (article) | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61720307 STONEWALL – Discrimination Against LGBT people (easy read) | https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/discrimination_easy_read_lo_res_v3.pdf NORAH FRY RESEARCH CENTRE – Secret Loves, Hidden Loves? (easy read research summary) | https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/190244315/Easy_to_Read_Summary_English_.pdf MENCAP – Sexuality – Research and Statistics (webpage)| https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/research-and-statistics/sexuality-research-and-statistics This post was written by Amy Bianchi

20-26 June 2022 is Learning Disability Week! The annual campaign (pioneered by learning disability charity, Mencap) is about showing the world what life with a learning disability is really like. At Abacus Care & Support, we know that people with learning disabilities are a gift to our communities. People with learning disabilities have unique gifts, skills and challenges which contribute to a beautifully diverse society. We also know that all too often, the ‘voices’ of people with learning disabilities are kept quiet. Well, this week we are encouraging you to GET LOUD about life with a learning disability! Read on to learn about Mencap’s three objectives for the campaign, and simple ways you can get involved. One: Educate and raise awareness about learning disabilities You can… Take the Mencap learning disability quiz to test your knowledge, and learn more about learning disabilities Subscribe to the Learning Disability Today newsletter to keep up to date with the latest learning-disability-related news stories Share a fact about your life with learning disability on social media, using the hashtag #LDWeek22 Two: Smash stigmas and end discrimination Become a Mencap myth-buster and tell the world about a myth you want to bust about being a person with learning disability. Read about how others are busting myths here Educate yourself about the stigma and discrimination facing people with learning disabilities Share an image of you or someone you care about destroying an assumption about having a learning disability and use the hashtag #LDWeek22. (Have you ever been told you can’t do something, only to prove them wrong?) Three: Fight and campaign for a fair society Contribute to vital research and share your experience by filling in The Big Learning Disability Survey Discover United Response’s campaigning opportunities and take a stand for learning disability rights Get social! If you’re a social media user, why not get intentional about the organisations you follow? Sharing interesting and important content from reputable social media accounts is a quick and easy way to campaign. You could follow: Mencap, Scope, Learning Disability Matters, NHS Ability, Learning Disability Today (and many more!) We know that it’s impossible to share all the joys and obstacles of life with learning disability in just one week! But the Learning Disability Week provides us with a chance to start the conversation. How will you use your ‘voice’ this week? Text found at www.mencap.org.uk has influenced the content of this blog. This post was written by Amy Bianchi