Royal Society Of Medicine Forum On Learning Disability

One Day Conference

Understanding the genetic causes of learning disability: how knowledge can guide good education and social practice

Wednesday 15 October 2003
West Park Conference Centre, University of Dundee

In recent years there has been a profound change in our understanding of the causes of learning disabilities. In particular, the way in which an individual's genetic make up can lead to learning disability and a wide range of associated behaviours has become increasingly clear. This association between particular patterns of behaviour and intellectual disabilities and specific genetic factors has been referred to as a behavioural phenotype. To better known behavioural phenotypes such as Down syndrome have been added many others, including Prader-Willi syndrome, Rett disorder, Fragile-X syndrome and Turner syndrome.

What does the study of behavioural phenotypes teach us about how we can best provide educational and social support to an individual with a given syndrome? What do we know about the causes of challenging behaviour associated with particular syndromes, and how best can the individual be helped? What are the implications for family care and how can families be assisted through appropriate advice and genetic counselling? What is it families themselves say they need?

This conference, the first to be held in Scotland by the RSM Forum on Learning Disability, explores these issues through presentations from some of the UK's leading researchers and clinicians as well as parents with direct experience of sons and daughters with behavioural phenotypes.

Further Information and Bookings

Contact the Royal Society of Medicine
www.rsm.ac.uk