Annabell's story Easy Read | Mencap | Easy Read

The learning disability register: Annabell's story

A head and shoulders photograph of Annabell

Who is Annabell?

Annabell Downey has a learning disability.

a group of people with their thumbs up

Annabell is supporting Mencap’s I’m In campaign.

Group of healthcare professionals assisting an elderly woman with a walker.

She wants people with a learning disability to get better healthcare.

A woman looks uncomfortable and is holding her head and her stomach

When Annabell was ill, it was hard for doctors to understand her.

She went to the doctor many times.

She had:
•    bad back pain
•    pain in her breast
•    felt very tired

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.

Annabell found it hard to explain:

• how bad the pain was
• when the pain was better or worse.

She did not have a support worker to help her talk to the doctor.

A man lying in a hospital bed.

Annabell became very unwell

One day, Annabell was in so much pain her friend took her to hospital.

A black silhouette of a person with a diagram of a cancer cell pointing to it

Doctors found that Annabell had breast cancer.

The cancer had spread to other parts of her body.

There is no cure for Annabell’s cancer.

A woman is sitting on a chair looking sad thinking about things

Annabell believes her cancer was found late because of her learning disability.

A young woman with a back pack and carrying books is standing in a classroom

Why Annabell is speaking out

Annabell says::

• doctors and nurses need better training

A clock showing 20 minutes has an arrow over it showing more time. This is above a picture of a doctor talking to a patient

• people with a learning disability may need more time

A young woman in a wheel chair is being consoled by someone. The young woman has a thought bubble beside her that shows she is confused

• people may need help to explain how they feel.

A woman with her thumbs down stands in front of a man in a suit and a man in causal clothes who has his hands on his hips

Annabell does not want other people to go through what she has been through.

A group of people of different ages with a learning disability register.

The learning disability register

Annabell supports Mencap’s I’m In campaign .

A woman is phoning someone who is sitting at a desk

The campaign encourages people to contact their GP to make sure they are on the GP learning disability register .

A picture of a woman in a wheelchair asking for more support, a picture of a man having a health check with his doctor and a picture of someone reading their health test results letter and smiling

Being on the register means:

•    your GP knows you need extra support
•    you can get a free health check every year
•    health problems can be found earlier.

A woman with blonde hair and glasses holding a megaphone

Annabell is asking people to:

• check if they are on the Learning Disability Register with their GP
• ask their GP for an annual health check .

A group of people with different disabilities and ages

Your story matters

Mencap wants to hear from people with a learning disability.

A picture of a woman pointing to the learning disability register, and a picture of a man having a health check with his doctor next to a bigger picture of a woman with her thumbs down standing beside a checklist of red crosses

You might want to share your story if:

• your GP did not put you on the register
• you did not get a health check
• appointments were hard to understand
• you had good care and support.

Your story can help make healthcare better for everyone.

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Send Mencap your story using our 'Tell us your story' website form.

Thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for their generous grant, funding this work.