ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the challenges and opportunities facing teachers who design and deliver learning opportunities for those who support and care for people with learning disabilities who encounter death, dying and loss. It considers these special needs and gives examples of means by which education can be used to inform staff in order to improve the quality of care for learning-disabled people with learning disabilities, and thereby the job satisfaction of their carers. People with learning disabilities have different disease profiles to the wider population. The incidence of various cancers is different, with higher rates of oesophageal, stomach and gall-bladder cancer. People with Down's syndrome have an increased incidence of early-onset dementia, heart disease and leukaemia. The learning disability focus is on living and maximising independence. Although as words this transposes directly to specialist palliative care, the essence of what is meant is different.
