Helping young people reach their goals.
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Features
Have your say on our selection of featured Viewpoint articles.
The Bright side of fostering
Fostering children with a learning disability brings with it many highs and lows. Lydia Bright and mum Debbie from ITV’s ‘The Only Way is Essex’ take time out from filming and recount their experiences to Jenny Darwent
Is personalisation working?
People with a learning disability should lead the lives that they choose. But is that a reality for everyone? Edd Fawcett finds that, despite some limitations, the personalisation agenda is heading in the right direction
What's important to people with a learning disability?
Decisions made on behalf of people with a learning disability and their families are all too often made without any input from the people they affect the most. Mencap’s latest research project aims to change that
Housing and independent living
Could we be undoing all the progress we’ve made towards independent living for people with a learning disability? Mencap’s new housing report assesses the situation
The Green Bike Project
Repairing, recycling and selling bikes, providing work experience to people with a learning disability – there’s no end to what the Green Bike Project can offer.
The Changemakers
Mencap’s Changemakers project has been mobilising an army of young volunteers with a learning disability, to challenge perceptions and make changes in their communities
Forced marriage
Forced marriage of people with a learning disability has hit the headlines recently, as the Forced Marriage Unit revealed an increase in reporting and a marriage was annulled by the court of protection. But what actually constitutes forced marriage and what needs to be done to tackle this very complex problem?
An afternoon with Ed Balls
On 6 July, Ed Balls went about his usual hectic schedule, but he was accompanied by his constituent and Mencap campaigner Susan Hanley. Here, Susan recounts her afternoon with the shadow chancellor in his constituency, Morley and Outwood, near Leeds
Back in the game
After being cast out for more than a decade, athletes with a learning disability make their return to the Paralympic Games at London 2012 this August. But what has made that possible and what does the future hold?
Blooming marvellous
In May, a group of gardeners with a learning disability charmed judges at the Chelsea Flower Show to win a gold medal, while raising awareness of the impact of cuts to services
Managing money
For many people with a learning disability, the prospect of opening a bank account and managing a budget is daunting. But the banking system is becoming a more welcoming place
The Mansell effect
Professor Jim Mansell, who dedicated his lifetime to improving the lives of people with a learning disability, died in March, after losing his battle with cancer
Quietly confident
He has profound and multiple learning disabilities and can’t communicate verbally, but Christian Raphael is building a successful career as a lecturer and trainer
Breaking bad news
Dealing with death and bereavement is a struggle for everyone, but it can be even harder for people with a learning disability.
