Mencap is hosting Learning Disability Awareness week from June 20 until June 26
(Picture: Mencap)Learning Disability Week is taking place from June 20-26. The week-long awareness event is hosted by Mencap, a charity that wants the world to hear “what life is like if you have a learning disability.”
The aim of Learning Disability Week is to “smash stigmas and end discrimination, educate and raise awareness about learning disabilities,” and “fight and campaign for a fair society.”
Ciara Lawrence, Engagement Lead at the learning disability charity Mencap who herself has a learning disability, said: “Learning Disability Week is a fantastic way of promoting and celebrating our diverse community while telling the world what it’s really like to have a learning disability and showing the amazing things we can do.
“When I was younger, I remember feeling down and speaking to my mum about all the great things everyone else was doing that may not happen to me, but 21 years later I’m progressing in my career and happily married for nearly 10 years.
“I am so proud of everything I’ve achieved and hitting these milestones that people didn’t think could happen for people with a learning disability.
“I have everything I’ve ever dreamed off and more and I only wish the same for other people with a learning disability.”
What is the theme of this year’s Learning Disability Week?
The theme of this year’s celebration is Living Life with a Learning Disability. Post-lockdown, Mencap wants to “show how people with a learning disability are reconnecting with friends and their communities.
“We also want to talk about the issues many people still face after the end of Covid restrictions, like still having to isolate or dealing with poor mental health and anxiety.”
How can you get involved with Learning Disability Week?
As part of this year’s event, Mencap is sharing stories from people with learning difficulties across social media.
Mencap is encouraging people to share their experiences on Twitter using the hashtag #LDWeek22.
The charity wants to hear how you feel about your life, how the pandemic has changed your life and your hopes for getting back to normal. You can also tell them why your community, family, and friends are important to you.
Mencap says: “Help us celebrate Learning Disability Week 2022 by sharing something about your life.
“What do you want to tell the world? What do you love? What do you want to change? What are you proud of? What are you worried about?
“Whatever it is, we want to help you tell your story.”
What is a learning disability?
There are 1.5 million people in the UK living with a learning disability. But a Mencap survey revealed that two-thirds of people cannot correctly identify a learning disability as a reduced intellectual ability.
The survey revealed that 40% of Brits thought it was dyslexia and 28% believed it related to a mental health issue.
The NHS defines a learning disability as something that “affects the way a person learns new things throughout their life.”
Someone with learning disabilities may have some difficulty with “understanding complicated information, learning some skills, and looking after themselves or living alone.”
But the NHS says: “A learning disability is different for everyone. Lots of people who have a learning disability can work, have relationships, live alone and get qualifications.”
A learning disability is not the same as learning difficulties such as dyslexia or ADHD. For example, Mencap describes dyslexia as a “learning difficulty” because, unlike learning disability, it does not affect intellect.
