One in five people (21%) say they have seen someone mocked because of their learning disability, according to a new survey.
And a similar number (17%) said they would feel uncomfortable communicating with a disabled person.
The poll of 2,000 people, by disability rights charity Dimensions, also found 48% of those questioned said they believe people without a learning disability are unwelcoming towards those who have them, revealing a poor public perception.
According to the government, a learning disability is a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence), with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), which started before adulthood.
It said: “The degree of disability can vary greatly, being classified as mild, moderate, severe or profound. In all cases, a learning disability is a lifelong condition and cannot be cured.”
Jenny, Jimmy and Alex have all been mocked, criticised, or abused, because they have a learning disability.
They are all now aged in their twenties but have described to Sky News their lives growing up, being made to feel “different”, “exposed” and having “zero” confidence.
Terry Venables: Former England manager dies aged 80
Terry Venables – latest: ‘RIP boss’: England footballers lead tributes after his death aged 80
Minister plays down cabinet split after Cleverly says Rwanda plan ‘not be all and end all’
Jenny said: “It created a hatred for myself. A hatred that I was different.” Jimmy added: “You feel like the odd one out, and you don’t get why.”
And Alex said: “I was bullied throughout my life, and I wanted it to stop.”
But they say their lives have changed thanks to outreach projects, education courses, and performances at the musical theatre company Chickenshed.
‘Barrier breaking’
Between 60-70% of the students there have a learning disability or ‘special need’ but they say they learn in an ‘inclusive’ environment.
“We’re one big family,” said Jenny. Being at Chickenshed was “barrier breaking”, according to Jimmy.
However, learning disability rights campaigner Mark Brookes has said the system needs to change so people feel more confident when reporting hate crime.
He said: “What we want to do is make the law easier so people can go through the system – go to the police, to report it, and then go through the court, to make sure that’s nice and smooth.”
Read more:
Still too many people with a learning disability or autism in hospital – CQC
Call for more businesses to employ people with learning disabilities
For people and performers at Chickenshed, there is at least some justice in feeling valued, included, and part of a welcoming community.
The barrier seems to exist not in what they feel is possible, but in how many in society perceive them.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
In a statement, the Home Office said: “Hate crime, including disability hate crime, is a scourge on communities across the country and does not reflect the values of modern Britain.
“We expect the police to take all hate crime seriously and work with the CPS to ensure perpetrators are prosecuted and victims receive justice.”
