The theme of Learning Disability Week 2025 in the UK is “Do You See Me?” In the context of this event, that means making sure that the estimated 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability are visible.
Mencap, the organisation behind the initiative, give the key stated aim of this year as:
Life with a Learning Disability in the UK
Mencap shared some startling facts ahead of the 2025 event. In particular, it highlights that, whilst, in 2024, only 26.7% of UK adults with learning disabilities are employed. This is in spite of the fact that an estimated 86% of learning disabled UK adults want to be in paid work! Is this acceptable? Is this good for the UK economy? Or, is it good for people’s sense of self-worth? The answer to all three of those questions is, of course not!
So, one aim of this initiative in 2025 is to encourage employers to make work more accessible to this large group (hundreds of thousands) of people who want to be part of the workforce. Obviously, this campaign relates to much more than work.
Coming back to some of those illuminating statistics, Mencap estimates that one third of UK adults with learning disabilities spend less than a single hour outside their homes on the average Saturday! When considering this, it becomes extremely clear that, both in and out of work, there is so much to be done. Here at Lifestyle & Mobility, we work extensively with the learning disabled. So, we’ve seen the transformative effects which are possible. But, more than possible, they are vital.
And that is why we would encourage anyone reading this to look into the work of Mencap, both during this week and day-in, day-out. All year round, they are doing incredibly valuable work.