Prevention & Early Intervention

Eric Emerson, Chris Hatton & Janet Robertson Centre for Disability Research

Lancaster University

Background

‘Prevention is the first step ....’

What Do We Mean by Prevention?

Primary prevention stops need/difficulty occurring

Secondary prevention intervenes early to prevent an emerging need or difficulty from getting worse

We can think about preventing the development of learning disabilities the development of specific needs (and need for

support and services) among people with learning disabilities

Prevention is Possible

In general, giving children a better start in life will prevent some children developing significant emotional or behavioural needs

This also appears to be true for children with learning disabilities

Risk of Persistent Conduct Difficulties Across Age 4/5, 6/7 & 8/9

Prevention is Possible

We know quite a bit about why some children and young people with learning disabilities show challenging behaviours Communication, power and

control Untreated physical and mental

health problems

Do Prevention Services Work?

In general, YES In relation to challenging behaviours

and learning disabilities, we just do not know But

We know they should We know that they do not have to be that effective to

be cost effective So why do we not take this issue more

seriously?

eric.emerson@lancaster.ac.uk