Learning Disability Week 2025: Why visibility matters

Becky
17 hours ago
3 min read

Updated: 26 minutes ago

Learning Disability Week 2025 is just around the corner, giving us a great opportunity to talk about why people with a learning disability need visibility.

Illustration of a group of people with learning disabilities. A young white lady, an older black woman and a young asian boy. They are pointing to themselves.

Starting on Monday 16 June, this year’s theme, “Do you see me?”, is all about people with a learning disability being seen, valued and heard. From challenging barriers to celebrating achievements, this Learning Disability Week aims to shine a light on the lives and experiences of people with a learning disability.

In this post, we dive into why visibility is so important for people with a learning disability - and how you can get involved.

1) Change minds

Many people make unfair assumptions about what people with a learning disability can and cannot do. This can make it harder for people with a learning disability to be seen as individuals and take part in activities in their local community.

We can challenge these assumptions by helping more people understand what it is really like to live with a learning disability. This also includes explaining things like the difference between learning disabilities and learning difficulties.

Awareness campaigns like Learning Disability Week can help people with a learning disability feel more included in their communities. If people are seen, heard and valued by everyone around them, this can help them feel safer and supported to live happy and healthy lives.

Illustration of an asian family sitting together. There is a young man in the middle talking, he has a learning disability.

2) Break down barriers

Learning Disability Week 2025 is also about highlighting the problems that people with a learning disability face in different parts of their lives.

According to Mencap’s 2024 Manifesto, 86% of adults with a learning disability want a paid job, but only 26.7% have one. Patients with a learning disability have also told Healthwatch England that they struggle to find accessible information about healthcare.

But when people with a learning disability share their experiences, it’s harder to ignore the barriers they face. This visibility can encourage organisations to provide better opportunities and make services more accessible for everyone.

3) Celebrate achievements

People with a learning disability bring a lot to society, and it’s important to celebrate that! They can be role models for others and challenge assumptions by simply being seen as they are: confident, capable, and in charge of their own lives.

Just take a look at MenCap’s Myth Busters - 18 people on a mission to show everyone what it’s really like to live with a learning disability. Made up of campaigners, artists, athletes and more, the Myth Busters show that when people with a learning disability are given the right support, they can achieve great things.

Sharing these achievements can help open up more opportunities for people with a learning disability in the future.

Illustration of a young man with a learning disability playing the violin.

4) Empower people

Decisions about people with a learning disability have often been made for them instead of with them. But by giving people a platform to speak up about their personal experiences, they can gain more control over their lives and the issues that affect them.

For example, when councils provide Easy Read versions of their public consultations, this can make it easier for people with a learning disability to have their voices heard. As a result, councils can make better, more inclusive policies throughout the year, not just during Learning Disability Week!

Illustration of a strong young black woman smiling and flexing her arm muscles.

Get involved with Learning Disability Week 2025

Remember, Learning Disability Week 2025 runs from Monday 16 June to Sunday 22 June.

There are lots of ways to take part in Learning Disability Week. For example, you could:

Follow and share stories from people with a learning disability.
Use the hashtags #learningdisabilityweek or #LDWeek2025 in your social media posts.
Start a conversation about visibility with your friends or colleagues.

It’s also important to keep championing learning disability visibility throughout the year. By providing Easy Read materials, organisations can help more people with a learning disability take part in events and make decisions that affect them.

Check out our Easy Read services to find out how we can help you during Learning Disability Week and beyond.