Rose Mabiza

08-03-2024

Learning Disability Week 2025

Image by astrakanimages via Envato Elements

“Do you see me?”: A call for visibility, understanding, and respect

From 16 to 22 June 2025, the UK comes together to mark Learning Disability Week, a vital campaign led by Mencap that aims to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and promote inclusion for people with learning disabilities. This year’s theme, “Do you see me?”, is both a question and a challenge, urging individuals, communities, and institutions to confront how society perceives and supports people with learning disabilities.

Seeing beyond the surface

People with learning disabilities are often overlooked, underestimated, or excluded, whether in education, healthcare, employment, or social settings. This year’s theme asks each of us to consider: Do we truly see people with learning disabilities? Not just as statistics or labels, but as individuals with hopes, talents, voices, and contributions that matter.

When we ask, “Do you see me?” we’re referring to visibility in schools, workplaces, the media, policy, and everyday life. We’re also talking about dignity, respect, and the right to belong. Learning Disability Week 2025 calls on all of us to challenge assumptions, celebrate achievements, and build a society where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.

Understanding learning disabilities

A learning disability is a lifelong condition that affects how a person learns, understands information, and communicates. It is essential to differentiate between learning disabilities and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia or ADHD. Learning disabilities can vary widely in their impact and severity, but with the proper support, people can live rich, independent, and fulfilling lives.

Why visibility and inclusion matter

People with learning disabilities are often the last to be considered in decision-making processes and the first to be excluded. The theme “Do you see me?” is a powerful reminder that true inclusion means more than token gestures.

It means:

• Representation - Seeing people with learning disabilities in leadership roles, workplaces, and media.
• Accessibility - Creating services, environments, and communications that work for everyone.
• Advocacy - Empowering individuals to speak up and be heard.
• Belonging - Building communities where everyone feels they have a place and a purpose.

How to support Learning Disability Week 2025

• Educate yourself - Attend a webinar or complete an online training course to gain a deeper understanding of learning disabilities and how to support individuals effectively.
• Raise awareness - Share personal stories, facts, and support organisations on social media using hashtags like #LDWeek2025 and #DoYouSeeMe.
• Start conversations - Challenge ableist language and assumptions in your everyday life and workspaces.
• Review workplace practices - Promote accessibility and inclusion in your organisation, from recruitment to workplace adjustments.
• Support advocacy groups - Donate to or volunteer with charities like Mencap, ENABLE, and Learning Disability England.

Conclusion

Learning Disability Week 2025 is more than an awareness campaign, a movement for justice, equality, and human rights. It reminds us to look beyond diagnoses and labels, and instead see people for their talents, potential, stories, and dreams.

Let’s commit to seeing, hearing, and uplifting those whose voices have too often been silenced. Let’s advocate for better services, inclusive education, fair employment, and a society that recognises and respects everyone.

Driving inclusion and compliance with ComplyPlus™

At The Mandatory Training Group, we recognise the importance of inclusive practices across all sectors, from health and social care to education and corporate industries. Through our comprehensive training programmes and our innovative compliance platform ComplyPlus™, we are proud to support organisations in becoming more inclusive, equitable, and legally compliant.

This Learning Disability Week, we echo the call: “Do you see me?” 

We see the need for visibility. We see the right to inclusion. And we see the value of every individual.

Last updated on 20-06-2025

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