As parents of children with additional needs, it's easy to get caught up in discussing their challenges or focusing solely on their extra requirements..

Lloyd Receives a Guiness World Record at the London Marathon 2024

In the spirit of achievements that remind us of the boundless potential within our learning disability community, let's look at the inspiring story of Lloyd Martin, a 19-year-old with Down's syndrome from Cardiff, who has recently carved his name in history by winning Guinness World Record certificate in yesterday's London Marathon.

It's amazing accomplishment and demonstrates that when someone has been really supported, it's incredible what they can achieve.

Lloyd, guided by his dedicated mother, Ceri Hooper, became the youngest person in his learning disability category to complete a marathon, receiving a Guinness World Record certificate.

Lloyd's achievement, running continuously for 14 miles—the longest he's ever run—before completing the marathon, highlights not only his personal triumph but also the critical role of support and encouragement in reaching our goals.

This story is a beacon of...

Our mission at HRD Consultancy is to ensure that every individual with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, neurodivergent, are able to thrive and reach their full potential.

As we navigate through the seemingly endless days of January, it's not uncommon to reflect on the resolutions we set just a few weeks ago.

We all start the year with grand plans – a renewed commitment to fitness, focused professional goals, and cherished moments with loved ones. However, as the month progresses, those initial sparks can wane, and the excuses start to pile up.

Ever wondered why it's so challenging to stick to our aspirations, especially in the professional realm?

The answer lies in accountability, a key factor highlighted by behavior change experts.

Whether it's shedding those post-Christmas pounds with a personal trainer or maintaining social commitments with friends and family, having someone to hold us accountable makes all the difference.

But what about accountability in our professional pursuits, especially for leaders in intellectual disability services?

How do you ensure that your vision for a more person-centered service translates into tangible,...

I wanted to tell you about something that happened to me last week.

I was in the middle of work on Friday when my phone went, glancing down at the phone, my heart missed a beat, then began to race… I guess you know what I’m going to say, the phone call was from my daughter’s school.

Immediately, my mind also began to race...

• What had she done?
• Was someone hurt?
• Was I going to have to go and pick her up?
• What mood had she been in when she left this morning?
• Was she having to wear wrong uniform that had annoyed her and agitated her, raising her sensory needs?
• What was the menu today?
• Had she not been able to eat what she wanted?
• Who had experienced the fall out from whatever had gone wrong?
• How could I get out of work to pick her up, if they were saying she could no longer stay on the school site?

I’m sure you know the drill – the 100 questions that go through your head, before I had even answered the call.

I was reminded of the many times...

As a leader of a learning disability organisation your commitment to providing high-quality, values-based, and psychologically informed care for individuals with learning disabilities is commendable. 

Your dedication to empowering them to lead fulfilled lives in services tailored to their needs sets you apart as a caring and responsible leader.

However, amidst your focus on the well-being of service users, it's crucial not to overlook the mental health of your staff. 

After all, they are the backbone of your organisation, and their well-being directly impacts the quality of care they can provide.

Common challenges

1.The Weight of Responsibility

As a leader, you carry the responsibility of ensuring your staff can deliver the best care possible. This can sometimes become overwhelming, leading to stress and anxiety.

2. High Demands

The nature of the job demands empathy, patience, and understanding, which can be emotionally draining over time.

3. Staff Retention

The...

We've had some big wins this week so we're celebrating these amazing champions and all the challenges they are conquering. 

Wimbledon's Wheelchair Winners

This year's Wimbledon wheelchair winners have left us in awe with their outstanding skills and unwavering spirit.  

It's time to give these remarkable athletes a round of applause and celebration for proving that disability is never a barrier to greatness! 

See, wins and achievements by people with disabilities often receive little attention in mainstream media. So I say, it's time to change that!

It's time to shine a light on their triumphs and contributions, both here on the sports field, as well as in every aspect of life. 

Representation matters, and seeing individuals with disabilities excel in their fields is a source of inspiration for us all.

From sports to arts, academia, and beyond, their presence makes our world richer, more diverse, and infinitely more compassionate.

Check out the winners on...

Embracing a New Reality: How Visualisation Can Help You Develop New Goals for Your Family

As a parent of a child with additional needs, you may have found that life is not exactly how you thought it would be.

You may have faced challenges and struggles that you never imagined, and you may have had to adapt to a new reality.

However, I want to reassure you that you're not alone, and there are ways to move forward and create a new vision for your family.

One powerful tool that I've found can help you develop new goals for yourself and your family is visualisation.

Visualisation is a process of creating a mental image of something you want to achieve. By using your imagination to see your goals as already achieved, you can create a clear picture of what you want to achieve, and it can help you to stay motivated and focused on what you want to achieve.

I've put together a few tips on how you can use visualisation to develop new goals for your family:

• Start with a clear goal: Think...

Lack of Focus

As a leader in learning disability services, you play a vital role in improving the lives of those with disabilities. From my experiences, I've noticed a lack of focus among some leaders, which can hinder progress and impact the quality of care.

So I thought I'd share with you the power of visualisation and how it can help your service stay on track towards achieving your goals.

Visualisation is a powerful tool that can help you and your team to clearly see and understand your objectives.

By creating a visual representation of your goals and desired outcomes, you can gain clarity and focus on what is important.

It can help to clarify complex ideas, communicate them effectively to others and keep everyone on the same page.

To make your visualisation effective, I've put together a few tips for you to keep in mind:

• Keep it simple: Use clear, concise language and avoid cluttering your visualisation with too much detail.
• Make it relevant: Focus on what is important and...

Overcoming self-doubt

As a leader in the learning disability service industry, I wanted to share and discuss a common challenge that we can often face from time to time: struggling with our own belief in our abilities.

I know firsthand how difficult it can be to maintain a positive mindset and outlook when facing obstacles, and I believe that this is a challenge that we need to address in order to provide the best possible service to our clients.

When we doubt ourselves as leaders, it can have a direct impact on the quality of service that we provide.

Our team members look to us for guidance and direction, and if we are not confident in our abilities, it can create a sense of uncertainty and confusion that can be detrimental to our overall success.

However, I also believe that there are ways to overcome this challenge and develop a more positive mindset. Some tips that have helped me in the past include:

• Focus on your strengths: Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, focus on the...