The Coronavirus and people with learning disabilities study (Waves 1-3) showed that the Coronavirus pandemic had a considerable impact on people with learning disabilities and their families. In this study we continued to examine the ongoing impact of the pandemic on the lives of people with learning disabilities in the UK, and also began to look at the current living circumstances of people with learning disabilities in the UK in the context of a pathway into recession and challenges for public services.

What we did

In this survey (Sept – Dec 2022) we spoke to 355 people with learning disabilities who were able to talk about their own experiences, by phone or virtually and 192 family members or paid carers of people with more severe and complex learning disabilities, who could not speak for themselves, completed an online survey about the individuals they cared for.

The results of the survey are available at the University of Warwick website (link below) along with Easy Read summaries of the findings. 

Project Lead: Prof Richard Hastings (University of Warwick)

Research Team:  Prof Chris Hatton (Manchester Metropolitan University) Co-Is: Prof David Abbott (University of Bristol) Dr Stephen Beyer (Cardiff University) Dr Jill Bradshaw (University of Kent) Dr Nick Gore (University of Kent) Prof Pauline Heslop (University of Bristol) Prof Andrew Jahoda (University of Glasgow) Anna Marriott (National Development Team for Inclusion) Dr Katrina Scior (UCL) Dr Laurence Taggart (University of Ulster) Dr Stuart Todd (University of South Wales) Researchers: Dr Sue Caton (Manchester Metropolitan University Dr Samantha Flynn (University of Warwick) Dr Tom Bailey (University of Warwick) Dr Amanda Gilooly (University of Glasgow) Dr Roseann Maguire (University of Glasgow) Dr Edward Oloidi (University of South Wales) Dr Peter Mulhall (University of Ulster) Partner organisations: Learning Disability Wales All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities Scottish Commission for Learning Disability Promoting A More Inclusive Society (PAMIS) Positive Futures Mencap Northern Ireland Learning Disability England PMLD Link.