Working with Caring, Listening and Supporting Partnership (CLASP), a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities in Wokingham Borough, we undertook a project to understand further, the feedback we had received about challenges people with learning disabilities in the borough are experiencing when visiting the dentist.
To gain insight, we worked with CLASP staff and volunteers, and conducted face-to-face surveys with CLASP members. We collaborated with Promise Inclusion, a local charity that supports parents and carers with children and/or adults with learning disabilities, who reviewed our survey questions to ensure that they were suitable for CLASP members.
Summary of findings
85% of CLASP members who completed our survey told us that their experiences at the dentist were 'okay' or 'better than okay.'
82% told us that they would return to the dentist for future appointments.
However, several common themes emerged from their responses on improving dental services. These themes focused on dentists' understanding of their disabilities and the necessity for appropriate accommodations and reasonable adjustments to be made at 'high street' dental practices. Offering an inclusive service involves also providing accessible communication about dental visits, including clear explanations of procedures and their necessity.