Helping People with a Learning Disability Explore Relationships

The books are short, simply laid out, easy to use with practical advice and exercises. The case studies seem to be taken from real life scenarios. Clients, staff and families would find these books very useful. They put in print the ordinariness of community living and how seemingly small incidences can impact on people. They may remind us to be more conscious and aware in our practice and to be creative in finding solutions and developing programmes.'

- Irish Social Worker

Focusing on the nature of relationships with other people, Helping People with a Learning Disability Explore Relationships continues the story of John, Danny, Terry, Lucy and Liz - the five people with learning disabilities who share a house - from where Helping People with a Learning Disability Explore Choice ended. In this book, Lucy grieves when her old friend Mrs Coles dies, Terry learns to stand up for himself in the factory where he works, and Danny falls in love. Sections for the carer draw out the issues raised in each chapter - friendships, bullying, loss, depression and romance - and suggest ways of exploring them in discussions and exercises for groups and individuals.

The book is designed for adults with learning disabilities to read alone or with a carer. It can also be used as a teaching aid for workshops, group work or drama sessions; and can be read in conjunction with its companion volume, Helping People with a Learning Disability Explore Choice, or alone. Illustrations by Tim Baker help the reader to visualise the characters and engage with the topics raised.

Eve Jackson is a former nurse who now works as a writer. She has considerable experience in working with people who have a learning disability, as a nurse in residential and community settings. She is currently working with young people in a voluntary capacity. Neil Jackson has worked as a teacher and lecturer in the field of learning disabilities nursing for the past fifteen years. He is currently working at the University of Southampton's School of Nursing and Midwifery.