Jackie O'Sullivan, acting CEO at
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
charity Mencap, said:
"Despite some encouraging steps forward, the Disability Action Plan is unlikely to bring about the change people with a learning disability need from our government.
We welcome new initiatives, like improving how government will undertake
research
Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think.
on disabled people’s experiences; support for disabled people who want to seek public and elected office; and work to make government communications more
accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
. But these positive steps do not address the most pressing issues for people with a learning disability: access to
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
, healthcare,
employment
Employment means having a job.
and cost of living support.
It's hard to feel optimistic about a plan which fails to address some of the fundamental inequalities for people with a learning disability who are dying on average 22 years younger than those in the general population or the fact that only 27% of people with a learning disability are in work, despite over 4 in 5 wanting a paid job.
The unacceptable inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability can only be addressed through a robust long term
strategy
A strategy is a plan to show what an
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
, or a person, wants to do and how they are going to do it.
to tackle the biggest barriers people with a learning disability face."
Mencap's response to Disability Action Plan
5 February 2024