We are delighted to welcome two speakers from Walsingham Support to the Learning Disability Leaders Conference 2026. Lin Spencer and Furqan Zaman will be presenting together on: Dementia in the Learning Disability Population
Why this topic matters
Dementia in the learning disability population is one of those subjects that can quietly fall through the gaps. People with a learning disability, and particularly those with Down’s syndrome, are significantly more likely to develop dementia than the general population, and often at a much younger age.
The challenge for services is that the signs and symptoms of dementia can present very differently in people with a learning disability. Changes in behaviour or support needs can be missed, misattributed, or go unrecognised for too long. That has real consequences for the person and for the people supporting them.
Getting this right requires both clinical understanding and skilled, well-equipped frontline teams. That is exactly what Lin and Furqan bring to this session.
Meet Lin Spencer
Lin Spencer, RNLD, BSc (Hons), is Head of Operations and Development for the North West region at Walsingham Support, covering North and West Cumbria. She has extensive experience in health and social care, having worked with people with learning disabilities, older people, and individuals living with dementia across a range of settings.
Lin is a passionate advocate for person-centred support and is committed to improving outcomes, reducing inequalities, and making sure people have a genuine voice in shaping their own lives.
Meet Furqan Zaman
Furqan Zaman is Learning and Development Manager at Walsingham Support, a national social care organisation operating across England and Wales. His work focuses on strategic workforce development: designing and leading initiatives that strengthen organisational capability, improve consistency, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
Furqan specialises in translating organisational priorities into learning solutions that have a real impact on the quality of care people receive.
What to expect from their session
Together, Lin and Furqan bring a powerful combination of operational leadership and workforce development expertise. Their session will explore what dementia can look like in the LD population, what good support requires, and how organisations can equip their teams to recognise the signs and respond with confidence and care.
Join Lin and Furqan at the conference
The Learning Disability Leaders Conference takes place online on Thursday 18 June 2026. It is completely free to attend, and every session will be recorded and made available afterwards.
Lin and Furqan are two of 8 expert speakers joining us across the day. More announcements are on the way
How to sign up
The conference is completely free. All you need to do is register using the link below, and we will send you everything you need ahead of the day.
We look forward to seeing you there.