After a diagnosis

After a diagnosis

A woman with her hand up and a speech bubble with a question mark in it.

If your child gets a diagnosis of a learning disability, you might have some questions you want to ask.

A woman holding a small girl who has Downs syndrome

How do I talk to other people about my child’s learning disability?

Everyone talks differently about having a child with a learning disability. 

A lady in a wheelchair smiling with her thumb up and an information sign behind her.

Some people like to tell other people lots of information. 

A woman holding a child on her hip.

Some people just like to say their child has a disability. 

A woman shrugging her shoulders with her hands out.

Your friends and family might not know much about learning disability. 

Two men sharing pages of information.

If they get information and help, it might help them to understand more about learning disability. 

A woman and a younger woman sit next to each other looking at a tablet computer in a pink case

Most people that you tell will want to help you and your child. 

A woman smiling and looking at a girl in a wheelchair

Who can help me?

It is important that you and your family get the right help if your child has a learning disability. 

images of a healthcare worker, a lady sitting down with a pen and paper, a doctor and 2 people standing together with an arm around the shoulder.

You might want to talk to: 

  • friends 
  • family 
  • your GP 
  • a healthcare worker 
  • a counsellor. (A counsellor is someone whose job is to listen to people and give them advice.)   
5 people with a healthcare uniform on, or wearing NHS lanyards.

You might have to see lots of different healthcare workers before and after your child gets a diagnosis.   

A lady sitting at a desk by a computer screen looking at a lady in a wheelchair who has a speech bubble with a question mark in it.

You can ask each person how they are going to help your child. 

A lady shrugging her shoulders with a question mark beside her.

Ask them to explain any information you do not understand.  

A man searching for a webpage on a laptop sitting at a desk

You might want to contact an organisation that supports people with your child’s diagnosis. 

A laptop showing a cursor on the screen over to the word click

For more information about some of the conditions your child might have as a diagnosis if they have a learning disability, visit our learning disability and conditions page. 

A laptop with an email on it and a mobile phone.

You can also contact the Learning Disability helpline for more information and support: 

A man looking at a laptop with a messenger program open on the screen

You can talk to other families: 

Contact logo

Contact is a charity that gives information, advice and help to parents of disabled children.  They can also help you to talk to other families.