Posted by Frances Sullivan

People in the UK do not properly understand the symptoms or consequences of having a learning disability, new research indicates.

According to survey figures published by Turning Point, almost a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents said disabled people lived in care homes, while one in three thought they could not live independent lives or have jobs.

On top of this, many grouped mental illness and dementia with learning disability.

Rosa Monckton, whose daughter has Down’s syndrome, observed that many respondents failed to recognise the positive qualities of people with learning disabilities, choosing to focus instead on negative characteristics such as poor social skills and slurred speech.

Adam Penwarden, director of learning disability services at Turning Point, commented: “People often think individuals with a learning disability are ‘different’ and discriminate against them because of this.

“In fact, they can make a great contribution to society when given the right support.”

Turning Point provides specialist and integrated social care services across England and Wales.