Learning Disability Week is a very important national event that takes place each year. Mencap has given this year the theme of “Do you see me?” which is about people with a learning disability being seen, heard, and valued. Something that we at the Independence Project believe in passionately.
In 2025, it’s from June 16th to the 22nd. You’ll find loads going on across the UK and online, all designed to get people talking and making change.
It’s a great opportunity to increase understanding and support for the rights of those with learning disabilities. These rights are basic human rights that many people with learning disabilities are still struggling to fully enjoy. Even when people have managed to achieve access to these rights, they must be continuously protected and promoted.
During the week we get a chance to celebrate the achievements of people with learning disabilities and challenge old ideas and prejudices while trying to build a truly inclusive community where everyone is valued, feels accepted, has equal opportunities and access to services, including housing and employment.
So, what is it?
Learning Disability Week is a big national movement to show what day-to-day life is really like for people with learning disabilities and to ensure that their authentic experiences of life in our society are shared and understood.
It’s important to highlight the successes of recent years towards inclusion and the strides taken to improve life outcomes for people with learning disabilities, but it’s even more important to continue to highlight and talk about the real challenges many people still face here and now.
Many groups, advocates, and families, join in to share stories, put on events, and give out helpful information. The goal is to break down barriers and help everyone live their best life, and live it to the fullest.
Why does it matter?
It’s key to getting everyone talking about acceptance and fairness. Acceptance of neurological differences and fairness of access to services and opportunities.
It aims to clear up misunderstandings and shows what people with learning disabilities can achieve with good support, and what they continue to struggle to achieve due to the nature of our society and the historic views, attitudes, organisations, and structures that we as a society have inherited from previous generations.
This focus makes communities, schools, organisations, and workplaces think about how they can be more welcoming and develop a much more inclusive environment within which people with learning disabilities are able to have access to the same life choices, options, and rights as everyone else.
Despite lots of progress over the years, many people with learning disabilities remain excluded from many important parts of society:
- Only 26.7% are in paid employment, while 87% want employment.
- 1 in 3 spend less than an hour outside their home on a typical weekend.
- Over 2,000 people are still detained in mental health hospitals. (The NHS Long Term Plan target to reduce the number of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people in mental health hospitals by 50% by March 2024 was missed last year.)
- People with a learning disability still have a lower life expectancy than the general population due to serious health inequalities and issues accessing care.
These statistics demonstrate the urgent need for change.
What is on and how can you get involved?
There are many events taking place around the country. Here are some taking place in Essex and places of support and information:
- Mencap has many ideas on how you can get involved including information, resources, social media banners, and much more on their website. Visit https://www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek for more information
- Essex County Council and Essex Learning Disabilities Partnership Trust present the Learning Disabilities Festival 2025 in Harlow. This free event, on Friday 20th June, is aimed at adults and those transitioning to adulthood. There will be information stalls, fun activities, and food available to purchase. Independence Project & Clubs will be going along with a stall from The Washclub.
- Essex Social Care will be holding an event in Danbury called “It’s My Life Festival 2025.” On Thursday 31st July, this is solely for children, young people, and their families who receive a service from Essex Social Care.
Here’s to making this year’s Learning Disability Week a week that makes real and lasting change, that celebrates the uniqueness of each individual while highlighting the areas that still unfortunately need to improve and change so all members of the community can live full and valued lives.
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