Views of population
The Mencap ‘Hear My Voice Campaign’ collated the insights and views of people living with LD to develop a set of proposals outlining positive changes that could be made to support those with LD in the following areas:
Healthcare
- Everyone with a LD should be offered a hospital passport so doctors and nursing staff understand their needs when they go to hospital.
- We ask that all doctors and nurses have training on the reasonable adjustments they need to make to give quality care to people with LD and their families.
Education
- Young people with LD’s should be supported to gain the right skills to prepare them for adulthood and have access to learning opportunities throughout their lives.
Housing
- There is often limited housing choice and not enough support to live independently. People want to be part of the community and not in a LD housing cluster.
Employment
- A survey of 1,625 working age adults with LD found that 62% wanted to work, but many reported barriers to employment, including:
- I find it hard to fill in application forms (28.5%).
- I have applied for jobs, but I haven’t got one (25.9%).
- I don’t know how to get a job (23.4%).
- I am worried about losing my benefits (21.2%).