What is a learning disability?
A learning disability affects how a person learns, understands information and communicates. This can make it harder to:
- understand new or complex information
- learn new skills
- cope with everyday tasks independently
How many people are affected?
- Around 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability
- Up to 350,000 people have a severe learning disability
Hartlepool
Learning disability - baseline estimates
People aged 18-64 predicted to have a learning disability, by age
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People aged 18 to 24 predicated to have a learning disability | 197 | 192 | 186 | 181 | 181 |
| People aged 25 to 34 predicated to have a learning disability | 299 | 301 | 301 | 296 | 291 |
| People aged 35 to 44 predicated to have a learning disability | 254 | 259 | 264 | 271 | 279 |
| People aged 45 to 54 predicated to have a learning disability | 298 | 287 | 278 | 266 | 257 |
| People aged 55 to 64 predicated to have a learning disability | 286 | 296 | 300 | 302 | 304 |
| Total population aged 18 to 64 predicted to have a learning disability | 1334 | 1334 | 1329 | 1317 | 1312 |
National priorities and policy
The UK Government and NHS have introduced several key policies to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities:
- Valuing People (2001): Introduced the principles of rights, independence, choice, and inclusion
- Putting People First (2007): Promoted collaboration across services to support independent living
- Valuing People Now (2009): A three-year strategy to build on earlier commitments
- NHS Long Term Plan (2019): Recognised learning disabilities and autism as clinical priorities
- Mandatory Training: Health and social care staff will receive training on learning disabilities and autism
These efforts aim to reduce health inequalities and improve care and outcomes.