Scottish Learning Disability Week holds special significance for the NES LD team. At the heart of our work is the principle that everyone deserves dignity, inclusion, and quality care.  People with learning disabilities are often denied this, as they face health inequalities, discrimination and stigma. Scottish Learning Disability Week is a chance to highlight the lives of people with learning disabilities, challenge barriers, and promote and celebrate inclusion.

During Scottish Learning Disability Week 2024, we proudly launched the Essentials of Learning Disability. This was an important opportunity to centre the experiences of people with learning disabilities and showcase a resource supporting deeper understanding and improved practice.

This year’s theme is ‘I am here’.  We’re pleased to show how our work helps shine a light on people with learning disabilities and support inclusion.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) supports high-quality education and training for health and social care staff. Our Learning Disability (LD) team ensures the voices and experiences of people with learning disabilities are reflected in resources and training.

We work closely with people with learning disabilities and partners like SCLD to shape inclusive learning. We’re a small but mighty team!

Essentials of Learning Disability consists of 21 short e-learning modules covering key topics like health inequalities, communication, and trauma. Designed for anyone working with people with learning disabilities, learners can mix and match modules to suit their needs.

The response has been incredible – Essentials of Learning Disability has been accessed over 10,000 times! There’s a clear appetite for learning that supports better outcomes.

But that’s not all …

We’ve also launched the Equal Health, Equal Lives podcasts on Annual Health Checks and created supporting resources. Additional e-learning focuses on healthcare access and reasonable adjustments in hospital care.

Our Common Ground animation raises awareness of trauma’s impact on people with learning disabilities, with new trauma-skilled training in development. We also helped create and promote the Understanding Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) e-book.

Our work is shaped by people with learning disabilities. Their lived experience informs each resource, ensuring respectful, person-centred, strength-based learning.

Learners don’t just gain knowledge—they hear the voices of real people, and human stories that can foster empathy and drive change.

For us, inclusion isn’t just a policy—it’s practical.  Every module is an opportunity to bring visibility and dignity into everyday practice. Inclusion remains central to our work.

But there’s still work to do. Education alone doesn’t lead to lasting change.  Barriers in the wider systems and organisations need to be addressed to support learning into practice.  Change can only happen within open and flexible environments.

For now, we’ll continue to use education to support the message ‘I am here. Include me.’  Join us in promoting learning as the basis for lasting change.  Together, we can build a more just, compassionate, and inclusive Scotland.

You can find all our resources on the Once for Scotland: Learning Disabilities page on Turas Learn.