Scottish Learning Disability Week 2024 – Brian

This week is Scottish Learning Disability Week, a campaign celebrating the rich contribution people with learning disabilities make to society, as well as working to ensure people receive full and fair access to all their rights. Each year has a different theme and this year the theme is ‘Digital Inclusion’.

To mark the week, we will be sharing how staff throughout our Hillcrest Futures services support people with disabilities to use digital technology and platforms safely to stay connected with friends and family, and access information and entertainment.

Today we hear from Brian who is supported by our Martingale Outreach service in Dundee. Staff at the service have been helping Brian to send and receive emails to and from his family in America.

The team initially assisted Brian to set up his own email address and password on their work mobile phones, as Brian does not have any digital devices of his own. Staff are supporting Brian to apply to Hillcrest Futures’ Enabling Fund to help him purchase an iPad to keep more regular contact with his loved ones.

To begin with, Brian was unable to work any digital devices, but with support from staff, Brian is now more confident in doing this.

He said: “I feel that the support I get from Martingale staff with sending out/reading emails to/from my family has been really helpful. It makes me feel closer to my family even though we live miles apart, and I feel glad to be able to know how my family is doing. Staff help me to be digitally connected, even though I have not got much knowledge in that field.”