Survey reveals prejudice against learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities still face widespread prejudice and ignorance among the general population, a Turning Point survey reveals today.

The social care organisation found one-third of people did not believe people with learning disabilities could live independently or carry out a full-time job.

The poll of more than 1,100 people also found that 23% of the public expected learning disabled people to live in a care home, while 8% said they would expect them to be cared for in a secure hospital.

The survey also exposed public ignorance about what constituted a learning disability with almost one-third of respondents wrongly identifying mental illness as a learning disability.

Over half of those polled (51%) felt learning disabled people were the most discriminated against group in society, ahead of gay people (44%) and people from black and minority ethnic groups (44%).

Adam Penwarden, Turning Point’s director of learning disability services, said: “As a sector, we need to work together to challenge preconceptions and show what a positive contribution to society people with a learning disability can make. This includes working, living independently and playing an active role within the local community.”

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