Profound & Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD)

We support people who have a wide range of learning disabilities and autism to live the life they choose, gain increased independence and achieve their goals and ambitions. People like Jane, Karen, Barbara, Elliott, Maggie & Doreen.

Our PMLD support

Dimensions believe in setting goals to deliver clear and lasting outcomes for individuals with multiple learning disabilities.

Our multidisciplinary team for learning disability support continually monitors and reviews our actions, allowing us to make changes that maximise our positive impact.

This includes specific areas of support for adults with severe learning disabilities:

• Levels of  behaviours of distress
• Learning new skills
• Adjustments to medication
• Reducing physical intervention

This includes access to funding for people living with profound PMLD disability, along with specialist referral to professionals with experience in severe and profound learning disabilities.

Our support doesn’t come at the expense of independence – we aim to help the person live as independently as possible, whether in supported living or CQC-registered care homes, depending on their needs. This means third-party behaviour support is reduced and the excess costs of caring for someone with PMLD is eliminated. Find out how we can help with supported housing.

To find out more about Dimensions’ support for people living with profound and multiple learning disabilities, contact our team of experts today and we will be happy to answer your questions.

What is PMLD?

Profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) is the term used to describe a group of people with severe learning disabilities. PMLD is any number of severe learning disabilities which combine to give an individual additional needs in areas like education, communication, healthcare, sensory interaction and behaviour.

Multiple learning disabilities can mean people have difficulty communicating and caring for themselves, which is why people living with PMLD typically need specialised support throughout their daily lives.

Because of this unique nature, there are many different examples of PMLD, and many people living with PMLD may have other diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome. This diverse range varies from person to person; one of the many reasons Dimensions’ support is tailored to each individual.

Dimensions’ multidisciplinary team for learning disability support is here to safeguard, improve quality of life and enable as much independence as possible.

Causes of PMLD

Profound and multiple learning disabilities can arise from a number of different causes and it is important to recognise that there is no guilt or blame to be apportioned. In some cases, it is not possible to identify a causing factor at all.

Caring for people with PMLD is about recognising those profound disabilities and providing the specialised disability support they need to live the best possible quality of life, with the most independence and least distress.

Due to the wide range of examples of PMLD and its complexity, it is important to remember that every individual is truly unique, leading to a need for a bespoke support plan tailored to the person being supported.

Diagnosis of PMLD is based in part on assessing developmental and educational milestones, and can be an ongoing process, especially in the case of younger children exhibiting profound learning disabilities.

Our practices

Much of the behaviours of distress exhibited by people with profound and multiple learning difficulties are a result of the challenges they experience.

We have seen that across many examples, the individual’s behaviour is a vital means of communicating. Responding in the appropriate way can reduce distress, alter the person’s environment and improve their quality of life.

At Dimensions, we believe in a Positive Behaviour Support(PBS) approach, which focuses on the person’s needs and can help to reduce levels of aggression and self-injury in individuals living with severe learning disability and autism.

We spend time with every individual so that one of our behaviour specialists can write a PBS plan. This offers proactive strategies to identify triggers and to meet the complex needs associated with the profound disabilities seen in PMLD.

Other Support Available for People with Autism & Learning Disabilities

Friends & Family

Telling your friends and family that are close to you that you have autism and help them to understand how to support you.

Social Media Groups

There are many online social media groups where people with autism share their experiences and offer support to others that you can join. A great place to start is the groups run by autism charities.

To find out more about the support options we offer in your area, see the map below: