People with learning disabilities are one of the most disadvantaged groups in our society (EHRC, 2016); they experience the most barriers to schools, services and communities. They are often isolated; their skills are not recognised and their voices are rarely heard. Among people with learning disabilities, the most disadvantaged are those with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) – a group of people who rely on 24-hour support in most areas of their lives and use alternative means to communicate effectively – (see Ware, 2019).
Whose role is it to challenge and address the exclusion of people with PMLD? Who can support this group of people to amplify their voices and recognise their skills and abilities? How do we provide opportunities to enable everyone to be active participants in their local communities? The answer to these questions is everyone – we all have the responsibility to support each other to have a voice. This answer might sound simple, but the implementation of it is more complex, as it challenges the core values and beliefs that we all hold as individuals.
