Learning disabilities
What is a learning disability?
- You may have difficulties understanding information
- You may have difficulties communicating to others.
- You may need quite a lot of help with many everyday tasks.
- These difficulties will have started before the age of 18.
A learning disability is not:
- a mental illness
- dyslexia or dyspraxia
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- autism
- a physical or medical illness
How do you find out if you have a learning disability
Our team can complete some assessments with you to explore this in detail by looking at your skills and your developmental history.
Our services
Art therapy (Rotherham and Doncaster)
Art therapy is a space where you can make art and talk to help with difficult thoughts, feelings and experiences. You don’t need to be good at art, just be willing to give it a go. It’s about finding something helpful to you.
Physiotherapy
This team will help you to improve and maintain your physical function, physical health and quality of life through rehabilitation, promoting active lifestyles and education for you and your family or carers.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists (OTs) complete assessments and offer support to help you be as independent as possible in activities both in and outside the home. We do this by providing equipment that you need or supporting you to learn new skills or try new activities.
Growing old with a Learning Disability team
If you have a learning disability and your memory and skills are changing as you age and it is not related to physical health of big life events, you, your family or carers can ask for further assessment and support from our team.
Our team
Community nurses
Our community nurses can help by:
- attending outpatient appointments with you
- supporting your health
- developing positive behaviour support plans
- promoting your physical and mental health
- helping you complete health assessments
- overcome health inequalities
- transition link nurses, supporting people moving into the service from children’s services
Psychiatry
Psychiatry will help you with the diagnosis, treatment and recovery from illnesses related to mental health.
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychologists can help by providing psychological assessments and psychological therapy to help with distressing events and emotions.
Speech and language therapy
Speech and language therapists provide support for people who struggle to communicate or who have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing.
Autism assessment team
If you have a learning disability and think you may also be autistic, you can ask for assessment from this team.
Helpful numbers and websites
Page last reviewed: September 16, 2025
Next review due: September 16, 2026
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