About our Big Learning Disability Survey
Mencap worked with people who have a learning disability to make the survey.
Nearly 2,000 people took part.
Mencap will listen to the things people said and think what to do in the future.
Big Learning Disability Survey results 2022
Download the full report or read the easy read Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing. version
Our research
We heard from almost 2,000 people with a learning disability about important issues including; healthcare, discrimination Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their religion Religion is to do with the things you believe about the world. For example you may believe there is a god or something else. Examples of religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. . , and money and support.
Some of our key findings:
Paid work
Over a quarter said they have a paid job.
Over a third of people who do not have a paid job said they would like to have a paid job.
Healthcare
Over 4 in 10 did not have an annual health check An annual health check A health check is when you see a nurse or doctor so they can help you to stay well. is when you see a nurse or doctor once a year so they can help you stay well. Everyone aged 14 or over who has a learning disability should be invited for an annual health check. in the last year.
Of those who did have an annual health check in the last year, almost 6 in 10 did not receive a Health Action Plan.
Discrimination
Over 4 in 10 reported that they did not go out in the past month because they were worried.
The most common reason was 'people calling me names or bullying me'.
When asked where they would go for help and support if being treated unfairly, over 1 in 10 said they did not know where to go for help and support.
Next steps
We have heard your views on important issues such as healthcare, discrimination, and money and support.
We will work with the government The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like income tax Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools. , VAT VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals. and council tax Council Tax is the money that people pay to the council. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection. . people should pay and how things like the National Health Service ( NHS The NHS is the National Health Service. The NHS gives free healthcare to everyone in the UK and includes things like your GP (doctors) surgery and hospitals. ) should work. and organisations Organisations are groups like companies and businesses. to make change happen.
We would like to say thank you to everyone who took part in the 2022 Big Learning Disability Survey!
I am a Research Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think. & Impact Assistant at Mencap. I also have a learning disability. I feel that it is very important to listen to the voices of people with a learning disability in research Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think. . It is for this reason that I joined the survey working group.
I am proud to have contributed to this report because it will be used by Mencap and other organisations to improve the lives of people with a learning disability across the UK.”
Dan Newton
We're here to help
To get support you can contact Mencap’s Learning Disability Helpline.
It offers free advice and support for people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111
Email: helpline@mencap.org.uk
Northern Ireland
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Option 2)
Email: helpline.ni@mencap.org.uk
Wales
Phone: 0808 8000 300
Email: helpline.wales@mencap.org.uk
You can also talk to Mencap’s Research team about any of the topics included in this survey.
Email: research@mencap.org.uk