Background: Policy, research, and people's own experience in the UK consistently highlight the central importance of a home of choice for people with learning disabilities. Yet attention is mainly focused on the development of specialist as opposed to generic housing options for people with learning disabilities. Methods: This article reviews the…

In this paper, the authors review life stories in learning disability research and practice since the 1960s. Although there is consistent evidence of their value in giving people a voice and an identity beyond the service label, they are not widely used in the provision of health and social care. This is despite long-standing policy commitments to…

Background: People with learning disabilities are often left behind and ostracised in life, education, employment and in research. This article describes the importance and value that people with learning disabilities can bring when participating in co-production and lived experience research. The article reports on the inequalities and barriers…

Background: Women with learning disabilities are less likely to access cervical and breast cancer screening when compared to the general population. The Social Ecological Model (SEM) was used to examine the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities in accessing cervical and breast cancer screening in England, UK. Methods: The findings…

Background: This paper describes the experience of conducting a co-researched project with people with learning disabilities in Madrid, Spain, during the COVID pandemic and lockdown. I discuss the advantages and limitations of working online and challenges encountered while coordinating and facilitating the research. Methods: Our research project…

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, many health services were withdrawn from people with learning disabilities, with negative impacts on people's health. What has happened to people's health and healthcare as we move beyond the pandemic? Methods: Access to health services and health status were tracked for 550 UK adults…

Background: The aim of this study was to examine whether and how people with learning disabilities were being supported to use technologies to keep connected and stay well during the pandemic. Methods: Thirty-eight people in a range of support roles were interviewed about their experiences of trying to support people with learning disabilities to…

Background: Documented inequalities in access to eye care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism are caused by poor uptake of primary eye care services, poor identification of eye problems, lack of signposting and reasonable adjustments of existing services, concerns about costs of care and the low priority historically given to these…

Background: People with a learning disability from ethnic minorities experience barriers in their access to healthcare services and poorer health outcomes. This study aimed to explore the factors that contribute to these barriers and to better understand how they can be reduced. Methods: Twenty 'experts by experience' took part in experience-based…

Background: Individuals with diabetes and a learning disability have poorer health outcomes than those without a learning disability. In the UK, the health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities are often the result of barriers they face in accessing timely, appropriate and effective health care. The aim of the study was to review…

Background: Active recreation denotes engagement with meaningful and rewarding activities that can improve physical and mental well-being for everyone; however, there are specific challenges to participation in active recreation for people with learning disabilities. Aim: To understand what hinders and what enables participation in active…

Background: There are few identified risk factors that may contribute to the increased risk of hospital admission for children and young people with intellectual disabilities. This qualitative study aimed to identify the key risk factors that precipitate admissions to Tier 4 child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) inpatient services…

Background: People with learning disabilities experience health and social inequalities, and research that could improve health services may not be implemented in real-life settings. Building stakeholder networks that can share and implement research findings may address this. This paper presents a framework for building a stakeholder network that…

Introduction: The Relationships and Sexuality Research Team consists of researchers with learning disabilities who specialise in research on sexual citizenship and use visual and creative research methods. They are collaborating with academics on an innovative, cross-national, interdisciplinary and co-produced research project that brings together…

Background: Persons with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) risk exclusion, both in research and as members of society. Because of their embodied communication, they face the challenges in being understood. Oftentimes, others speak on their behalf making inferences on what their perspective might be. Methods: Empathy is suggested…