What is learning disability week?
Learning Disability Week takes place from 20 – 26 June annually, the campaign is organised by the charity MenCap, with the aim of raising awareness in regard to what it’s like to live with a learning disability. Learning Disability Week was created to help to challenge the stigma and discrimination often surrounding learning disabilities, with the secondary aim for the week being to educate more people about learning disabilities.
What is the focus for learning disability week 2022?
In 2022 MenCap want to focus on demonstrating how people with a learning disabilities are reconnecting with friends and their communities. After the pandemic, this is a crucial issue which is why it has been chosen as the focus. MenCap also want to address issues many people with learning disabilities still face after the end of COVID restrictions. These issues often include loneliness, mental health issues and anxiety.
How to get involved in learning disability week
If you have a learning disability you can get involved with the project; it is your week. MenCap are asking that individuals with learning disabilities share something about their life online this week. Think about What it is you want to tell the world about your disability or yourself. You should also think about what you love about yourself, disability does not have to all be negative, when being different can be good. Another idea is to share something you wish would change. What you choose to share is entirely up to you.
Why you should care about learning disability week
MenCap approximate that 1.5 million individuals within the Uk have a learning disability. Of that amount 869,000 are adults aged 18 to 64. A large percentage of the population have one or more learning disabilities however society is often not providing these individuals with the support they desire. Societal attitudes towards learning disabilities must change and weeks such as learning disability week are a huge step in the right direction. It is estimated that only 6% of adults with a learning disability in England are in paid employment. Accessing employment is often difficult for individuals with learning disabilities often due to prejudice and judgment.
Why Learning Disability Week is important to me
As previously discussed in some of my articles I have dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism. I believe that learning disability week is certainly a step in the right direction. Weeks that focus on learning disabilities specifically are important as learning disabilities are often overlooked or minimised. I was not able to access any of the assistance I desperately needed until I was 18 years old with some support from 17.
I have been called names such as lazy, liar, weird and strange all because I have several learning disabilities. I firmly believe that societal views are one of the main reasons for a variety of issues that I have had to face within my life.
When I was younger, I was told that I could not be dyslexic because ‘dyslexics cannot read and you can’ , I have also been told that ‘ dyspraxia is not real’ and been treated differently due to being a female with autism. If you are a female with autism in my experience, it is like you have a negative label attached to you by society which leads to nobody wanting to give you a chance. If people with learning disabilities share their stories like I have it will led to a more open dialogue and hopefully result in change.