...and so yes, let me see...i am very glad that i worked at acorn villages ltd, for a while...as a 'therapies coordinator' at the meeting place...because the whole thing was to give me such an insight into all sorts of different 'learning disabilities'....

however, problems could arise when you are not aware/have not been told that a certain person has what we shall call 'learning disabilities'....do you see what i am getting at, here?

"particularly not if they are dressed in a uniform" replies MI5 ONLINE....exactly that, see previous post. Perhaps you should publish your own 'guidelines' entitled how to deal with SIS/MI6 agents 'undercover'?

....and so how do you handle a given situation - when confronted by a 'special needs' person-in-uniform...if you haven't read the 'governmental guidelines' etc etc for 'whateveritis'....and so do not know that it is best to respond along the lines of 'stay put until told what to do - if there is a fire within the building - unless it is in your own flat' etc etc (which really doesn't make sense unless you are bed-ridden and need an ambulance crew to get you out because the fire might be spreading quickly, to other flats and floors)...

hmmm...well, one of the ways to manage 'special needs' people, is to make them feel 'big'....ask them what they think is the best way...and after they have told you - then heartily agree with them....a bit of 'stroking'/'back-patting' tends to go a long way...thank them for being so clever, brave, courageous, afterwards etc etc...but don't lay it on too thick...ha ha ha...sound like you really mean it - which you would do, if you had been told beforehand - that a certain person needs 'looking after' along with 'careful handling' because they are a bit 'special-in-the-head' - wouldn't you?...however, the problems arise when you don't know that they are...etc etc...and so do NOT be tempted to ask them if you get a medal, gold star, 'double-A grade' or 'brownie points' for supplying the right answers, mcdonald....because that will get you nowhere - in point of fact, it might even get you manhandled out of your flat and then locked up in a cell, for the night...go figure.

oh and do not be tempted to say "if there's a serious fire - then i'll be the first one out the frontdoor - whether it's in my flat or not" because they will then 'doorstep' you - in an increasingly aggressive manner, until they have elicited what they understand as being the 'right answer'...go figure.

anyway, let's change the subject and have a look at what's on the BBC homepage, this morning....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/