Advice needed please! Adult Learning disabilities question.

Woodside2

Hi

I would like to ask for advice from you wise folk :-)

My brother (39) has quite severe learning disabilities, he lives in a local authority flat by himself and is independent and able to look after himself. We (my parents and I) help him with his shopping, money and understanding bills and liaising with the job centre. He is on various benefits including DLA. He wants to work but we cannot find any work that his abilities would be suited to.

He did have a job for over 15 years, mostly because the owner understood how to deal with him, but he gets frustrated easily and can kick off at seemingly small things. He can't deal with numbers at all, his reading is not great, his comprehension of time is limited and he gets very confused when given tasks unless shown several times. Unfortunately they closed and he has only managed to hold down a few jobs for a few days or a couple of weeks. He now does voluntary work for a charity washing cars, which he loves but it won't pay the bills!

He has never really been fully assessed for what he issues are, he was part of a generation where he wasn't allowed to stay in mainstream school. I have been trying to find a place to assess adults but keep hitting dead ends - he doesn't need assistance living or looking after himself, but we know, and the job centre, that he can't work in a conventional job.

Sorry for wittering on but does anyone know how to be assessed generally for learning issues as an adult? Or any other advice? I love him dearly, and he is an amazing guy who is unaware of his limitations and just wants to work and help people.

Thanks in advance

princessdon

I don't know how big your local college is or what their staffing is etc but most large fe colleges can do screenings for dyscalc dylex dyspraxia etc.

The jc also has disability specialists who screen and do work prognosis up here

Woodside2

Thanks for the reply, the job centre has assigned him someone who specialises in learning disabilities but they can't advise on assessment, they just try to find a job for him and chek he's applied for jobs. They are helpful but over stretched so they can't help him too much. I'll try the college, he does do a computer class but again no-one has been able to help get him assessed. If he was I think it would be easier to gain advice and also for potential employers to understand how to get the best out of him.

princessdon

It's hard for an adult as an ed psyc is needed. Schools have better access - they get diagnosis easier. The fe college can only do if enrolled but functional skills maths is free and will probably be good for him. They can only screen not diagnose but give a report based on how many indicators and techniques to use in every day life to overcome.

Woodside2

Thanks for your help I'll contact his local college, he has done some maths classes which have been useful but he needs it continuously to really stick!

nightsky224

Woodside2 wrote: »

Thanks for your help I'll contact his local college, he has done some maths classes which have been useful but he needs it continuously to really stick!

Where abouts does he live?