Mencap is calling on the public to offer more support to parents of children with a learning disability, after a survey of 1,000 parents revealed that 70% have felt unwelcome in public, almost two-thirds miss social engagements and 21% have been asked to leave public spaces with their child who has a learning disability.
Despite parents saying attitudes have improved it’s clear a bad experience is having long-term effects – with parents we spoke to saying they have missed their best friend’s wedding, had their child told he needed to stay in the garden away from other children, and others saying the public are “are afraid of what they don’t understand.”
Mencap is calling on the public to be more accepting towards children with a learning disability – to think and not judge and instead offer support to help end this isolation. For parents of children with a learning disability who are suffering, a new online community has been set up by Mencap, FamilyHub, offering peer-to-peer support for parents.
Key findings from the survey of over 1000 parents include:
- 70% of parents said they have felt unwelcome when out in public with their child
- 21% of parents said their child has been asked to leave a public place because of behaviour resulting from their learning disability
- 63% of parents said they have chosen to miss an engagement in the last 12 months due to concerns about how the public will react to their child
- 41% of parents said they feel other parents are somewhat or very unhappy for their child to spend time with their children
- 50% of parents think public attitudes towards children with a learning disability are negative
- But 43% believe attitudes towards people with a learning disability have improved.
The survey was carried out to highlight Mencap’s 70th birthday and how attitudes have changed since the movement was started by Judy Fryd, a mother who wrote a letter to Nursey World Magazine asking for support from other parents.
Ramya Kumar mother of 9-year-old Rishi who has autism and a related learning disability, said:
“From our experiences public attitudes towards individuals who are differently abled are still extremely negative and not much has changed since Rishi was born. It is particularly difficult when people don’t realise Rishi deals and interacts with people and his surrounding world differently. When he behaves in a way other people don’t understand, I end up explaining his condition and apologising for him and I feel I shouldn’t have to.
“I was once asked that I keep Rishi in the garden instead of taking him along into their house, because of his behaviour, a behaviour which is a result of his Autism, something he can’t control.
“We feel extremely isolated and outcast from society because I feel they don’t understand or want to understand my son and his and our challenges, and that makes people act awkwardly and drift away from us.”
Rossanna Trudgian, Head of Campaigns at Mencap, said:
“Public attitudes may have improved in the 70 years Mencap has existed, but as a society we should feel ashamed to have such little acceptance to children who may sometimes act differently to others. It’s heart-breaking that not only are children with a learning disability being dropped off birthday invite lists or being asked to stay in the garden away from other children, but almost a third of parents have felt forced to miss social engagements, such as their best friend’s wedding.
“The good news is that solving this can be easy, inexpensive and life-changing for parents. If the public can think and not judge when they see a child behaving differently and instead offer support and acceptance this suffering could end overnight. Parents who dedicate their life to the love of their children shouldn’t have to feel the constant need to apologise if they are different.
“There’s a lot of confusion around learning disability, but gaining a bit more understanding could change the lives of parents who have said in such large numbers that they are in need of help. For anyone worried about how to react around children with a learning disability, we urge people to pause and realise it’s ok to feel awkward, but to still engage and help end this isolation so many parents are feeling.”
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact the Mencap press office on 020 7696 5414 or media@mencap.org.uk or for out of hours 07770 656 659.
Mencap’s online community
- FamilyHub is a platform that enables parents and carers of people with a learning disability to offer peer-to-peer support.
- The network will empower parents and offer a positive lifeline.
- FamilyHub is being launched in honour of Judy Fryd, who triggered a movement which became Mencap 70 years ago, by writing to Nursery World magazine and inviting other parents to get in touch.
- The community can be found at https://www.mencap.org.uk/familyhub.
Mencap’s 70th birthday survey results
- Mencap carried out an online survey of parents with a learning disability between August 2016 – November 2016. Over 1000 parents responded and the results of the survey are below.
Which statement do you agree with most, based on your own experiences in the last year?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Public attitudes towards children with a learning disability are extremely positive
1.0%
10
Public attitudes towards children with a learning disability are positive
20.5%
210
Public attitudes towards children with a learning disability are neutral
29.0%
297
Public attitudes towards children with a learning disability are negative
40.0%
410
Public attitudes towards children with a learning disability are extremely negative
9.5%
97
Total responses
1024
Do you and your son or daughter ever feel unwelcome when you go out in public?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Always
3.7%
38
Often
19.9%
204
Sometimes
46.6%
477
Rarely
23.2%
237
Never
6.5%
67
Total Responses
1023
Has your son or daughter ever been told to leave a public space (such as a shop, restaurant or cinema) due to behaviour resulting from their learning disability?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Yes
21.4%
219
No
74.1%
759
Not sure
4.5%
46
Total Responses
1024
In the last 12 months, have you chosen to miss an engagement (such as a party, play date or event) due to concerns about how the public will react to your son/daughter with a learning disability?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Yes
62.9%
643
No
33.7%
345
Not sure
3.4%
35
Total Responses
1023
To what extent do you feel parents of non-disabled children are happy for their child to spend time with your son or daughter?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Very happy
8.3%
85
Somewhat happy
20.7%
212
Don't mind
30.1%
308
Somewhat unhappy
32.5%
332
Very unhappy
8.4%
86
Total Responses
1023
Since your child was born, do you think attitudes towards people with a learning disability have:
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Improved significantly
6.8%
70
Improved slightly
36.9%
377
Not changed/Stayed about the same
42.9%
439
Worsened slightly
8.8%
90
Worsened significantly
4.6%
47
Total Responses
1023
What has been your experience of the attitudes of members of the public when they first meet your son or daughter?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Extremely positive
3.6%
37
Positive
29.5%
302
Average
44.1%
451
Negative
19.7%
202
Extremely negative
3.0%
31
Total Responses
1023
Timeline of Mencap
More information about Mencap's history can be found here: https://www.mencap.org.uk/about-us/mencaps-history
About Mencap
There are 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability, their families and carers by fighting to change laws, improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
For advice and information about learning disability and Mencap services in your area, contact Mencap Direct on 0808 808 1111 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) or email help@mencap.org.uk
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which can cause problems with everyday tasks – for example shopping and cooking, or travelling to new places – which affects someone for their whole life.
People with a learning disability can take longer to learn new things and may need support to develop new skills, understand difficult information and engage with other people. The level of support someone needs is different with every individual. For example, someone with a severe learning disability might need much more support with daily tasks than someone with a mild learning disability.
Learning disability is not a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Very often the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used interchangeably with ‘learning disability’.