To mark
Learning Disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
Week 2023 (19-25 June), Mencap has announced today that ‘
Myth
A myth is an idea about something that is not true.
Buster’ Heidi Crowter, who has Down’s syndrome, has set the Guinness World Records title for the most celebrity birthdays identified in three minutes (II).
Heidi, 27 from Coventry, became a Guinness World Records title holder after recalling an astonishing 70 celebrity birthdays, from Queen Victoria and Margaret Thatcher to Brad Pitt and Shakira, without hesitation. As well as spending her time honing her impressive memory skills, Heidi is a passionate disability
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
campaigner and is married to her husband James who also has Down’s syndrome.
The record was achieved under Guinness World Records’ new impairments initiative (II), developed alongside learning disability charity Mencap. The initiative allows reasonable adjustments to be made for record attempts in order to better include people with a learning disability.
If that wasn’t enough, fellow Mencap Myth Buster Harvey Price, 21, will also begin his own record attempt during Learning Disability Week.
Harvey has
autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Septo-Optic Dysplasia and a learning disability. He lives at a residential college in Cheltenham. Harvey has a love of trains and will be taking on the Guinness World Records title for the world’s longest train drawing (team) (II). Harvey, alongside ten friends from the college who also have learning disabilities, have begun their attempt to draw a 20m long and 1m high train and aim to complete it in over one month.
This Learning Disability Week is all about challenging misconceptions about life with a learning disability, with people across the country busting myths and showing what they can achieve - including becoming Guinness World Records title holders!
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Mencap Myth Busters are a team of ambassadors championed by Mencap to show the world what having a learning disability means today, and include athletes, activists, business owners, actors, a model, a dancer, a football coach and more.
Mencap Myth Buster, Heidi Crowter, said:
“I am feeling very proud of myself for achieving a Guinness World Record! I love sharing my joy of birthdays with people, and I have been writing a birthday list and practising a lot; everyone knows that practice makes perfect!
“Achieving a Guinness World Record means I can do anything I set my mind to! I am proud to be a Mencap Myth Buster and keep challenging perceptions about what I can achieve.”
Katie Price, Harvey Price’s mum said:
"I'm unbelievably proud of Harvey for doing this Guinness World Records challenge! He continues to defy the odds and amazes me every day. He absolutely loves drawing trains, so I know he'll get so much enjoyment out of this experience."
Mencap’s CEO, Edel Harris OBE, said:
“It’s truly groundbreaking for Mencap to be working with Guinness World Records to ensure breaking records is something that’s
accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
and achievable for people with a learning disability.
People with a learning disability just like the wider population have a range of amazing skills and talents. It is crucial to provide a platform for people with a learning disability to not only provide equal opportunities but also bust myths about what people can and can’t do.
“We’re so proud of our Mencap Myth Busters Heidi and Harvey for paving the way and taking on the amazing challenge of setting a Guinness World Record!”
Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said:
“The opportunity to become a record holder and be the best in the world at something must be open to absolutely everyone.
We’re proud to be working with Mencap to spread this message far and wide: we want to celebrate people of all abilities and showcase them in a book that offers a true snapshot of our gloriously diverse world.”
*For further information or to arrange an
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
with a Mencap
spokesperson
A spokesperson is someone who speaks up about something. They usually speak up on behalf of a group or
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
.
or Heidi Crowter please contact Mencap’s media team on: media@mencap.org.uk or 02076965414 (including out of hours).
More images and videos of Heidi available.
Notes to editors:
Get in touch* to find out about some of our inspirational Myth Busters with incredible stories that you can feature during Learning Disability Week. The Mencap Media Team is also available to provide training and advice to journalists on the best way to interview and include people with a learning disability.
About Mencap:
There are approximately 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability, their families and carers by fighting to change laws, improve services and access to
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
,
employment
Employment means having a job.
and
leisure
Leisure is when you have time to do things you enjoy like playing sports or going to the pub.
facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want: www.mencap.org.uk
For advice and information about learning disability and Mencap services in your area, contact Mencap’s Freephone Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111 (10am-3pm, Monday-Friday) or email helpline@mencap.org.uk.
What is a learning disability?
-
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which means that people might need support with everyday tasks – for example shopping and cooking, or travelling to new places – which affects someone for their whole life;
-
Learning disability is NOT a mental illness or a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty. People who have dyslexia can find it hard to read, write and spell.
. Very often the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used interchangeably with ‘learning disability’; -
People with a learning disability can take longer to learn new things and may need support to develop new skills, understand difficult information and engage with other people. The level of support someone needs is different with every individual. For example, someone with a severe learning disability might need much more support with daily tasks than someone with a mild learning disability.
About Guinness World Records
What’s the fastest game bird in Europe? This was the question that inspired the founding of Guinness World Records back in 1955. Starting with a single book published from a room above a gym, GWR has grown to become a global multi-media brand, with offices in London, New York, Beijing, Tokyo and Dubai. Today, we deliver world-class content, not just through books, but via TV shows, social media and live events.
Our in-house consultancy works closely with brands and businesses around the world to harness the power of record-breaking and deliver award-winning campaigns and business solutions.
Through our in-house production arm, GWR Studios, we create standout content for broadcasters, brand partners and digital platforms.
Our Entertainment Services division brings the best of the GWR brand to life in a diverse range of live experiences where visitors can discover and even attempt official world records.
Whatever the medium, our ultimate purpose is to make the world a more interesting, fun and positive place.
To join this record-breaking
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
– and find out the answer to that original question – visit guinnessworldrecords.com.
About National Star
National Star is a UK charity providing education, care and support to enable young people with disabilities and learning difficulties reach their potential. The charity runs a residential and day college in Cheltenham as well as day colleges in Hereford and Mamhilad, Wales. It also provides long-term living for 32 people at Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hereford and Malvern.
*For further information about National Star, please contact Marianne Sweet on: msweet@nationalstar.org or on 07595 256271.