Learning Difficulties Research – Have your say

Date: 25th April 2018
Category: Disabled children

The second phase of a Scotland-wide project has launched to find out what research into learning difficulties in children and young people should be prioritised.

The project is being delivered by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with Scottish learning difficulties charity and Together member The Salvesen Mindroom Centre. They are asking children, young people and adults who have learning difficulties, their families and the professionals working alongside them, to choose their top 10 research priorities from a shortlist of 40 questions.

The first phase of the Research Priorities for Learning Difficulties project took place last summer and 828 research questions were submitted from across Scotland. Following analysis these responses have been summarised into the shortlist of 40 questions.

The shortlisting survey is now live and the results will be used to influence future funding of research into learning difficulties.

Many definitions of learning difficulties exist and for people wanting to take part in the survey who are living with a learning difficulty, they do not need to have a diagnosis to join in. If someone is diagnosed though, their learning difficulty might be associated with conditions as dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette's syndrome, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The James Lind Alliance, an organisation with experience in facilitating priority setting projects for a range of different conditions, is also working in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and The Salvesen Mindroom Centre on the project.

The survey is open until 18 May 2018 and a child-friendly version is available.

Find out more at www.SalvesenMindroom.org or email LD_Research@ed.ac.uk