Learning Disability Week
June 15 - June 21
About Learning Disability Week
Learning Disability Week takes place from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June 2026, organised by the UK charity Mencap. The week shines a light on the lives, achievements, and experiences of the 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. The 2026 theme is “Do you see me?”, asking the public to recognise, value, and listen to people with a learning disability.
What is Learning Disability Week?
Learning Disability Week is an annual UK awareness week led by Mencap, the country’s largest charity for people with a learning disability. The week brings together individuals, families, supporters, schools, employers, and policymakers to challenge stereotypes and push for greater inclusion. It also celebrates the talent and contribution of people with a learning disability across art, sport, work, and community life.
When is Learning Disability Week?
Learning Disability Week 2026 runs from Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June 2026. The week is held in mid-June each year and brings together a programme of events, online campaigns, and fundraising activities across the UK.
Why Learning Disability Week Matters
People with a learning disability often face significant barriers to inclusion, from poor health outcomes to bullying, unemployment, and lack of access to public services. Mencap reports that people with a learning disability die on average 23 years earlier than the general population, and only around 5% of adults with a learning disability are in paid employment. Learning Disability Week pushes back against this inequality by giving a platform to people with a learning disability, sharing their stories, and pressing for practical change in healthcare, education, housing, and the workplace.
How to Get Involved in Learning Disability Week
There are many simple and powerful ways to take part:
- Join the 1.5 million step challenge – Walk, run, or wheel 1.5 million collective steps with friends, colleagues, or your team to represent the 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability and raise funds for Mencap.
- Share stories and lived experiences – Amplify the voices of people with a learning disability on social media using #LDWeek2026 and #DoYouSeeMe.
- Host an inclusive workplace event – Run a lunch-and-learn with a guest speaker, screen a Mencap video, or feature staff stories of disability and family caregiving.
- Make your communications easy read – Audit your organisation’s documents, signs, and websites against easy read guidelines so people with a learning disability can access the same information.
- Volunteer locally – Mencap, Merton Mencap, and dozens of regional learning disability charities welcome volunteers to support social groups, sports activities, and community events.
- Donate to Mencap – Funds support advocacy, helplines, supported living services, and campaigns for better healthcare and employment outcomes.
- Educate yourself and others – Read Mencap’s free guides on what a learning disability is, the difference between a learning disability and a learning difficulty, and how to be a better ally.
History of Learning Disability Week
Mencap was founded in 1946 by a small group of parents who wanted better support and education for their children with a learning disability. From those early roots the charity grew into the UK’s leading voice on learning disability, running services across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and campaigning for legal and policy change.
Learning Disability Week was launched by Mencap to provide a focused annual moment to raise awareness, fundraise, and push for inclusion. Over the years the week has covered themes including health inequalities, friendship and loneliness, employment, and creativity. The 2024 theme “Do you see me?” struck a powerful chord and has been carried forward, asking the public to truly notice, listen to, and value people with a learning disability rather than ignoring or speaking over them.
Each year Learning Disability Week is supported by celebrities, MPs, and major UK employers, with social media campaigns, parliamentary events, and grassroots community gatherings combining to put the week firmly on the national agenda.
Noteworthy Facts About Learning Disability Week
- Around 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability, which is roughly one in 50.
- Mencap was founded in 1946, making it one of the longest-established disability charities in the UK.
- The 2026 theme “Do you see me?” focuses on visibility, voice, and respect for people with a learning disability.
- Only around 5% of adults with a learning disability known to social services are in paid employment.
- People with a learning disability die on average 23 years earlier than the general population, often from preventable causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Learning Disability Week?
It is a UK-wide annual awareness week run by Mencap. It celebrates the lives of people with a learning disability and pushes for inclusion in healthcare, education, work, and community life.
When is Learning Disability Week in 2026?
It runs from Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June 2026.
What is the difference between a learning disability and a learning difficulty?
A learning disability is a lifelong condition that affects how a person learns new things, communicates, and manages everyday life. A learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, affects specific skills like reading or writing but does not affect overall intellectual ability. Mencap focuses on people with a learning disability.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Learning Disability Week with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #LDWeek2026 and #DoYouSeeMe on social media. The more people who notice, listen, and act, the closer we get to a society where everyone with a learning disability is valued.
Related Awareness Days
- Hats For Headway – Supports people with brain injuries, another community advocating for visibility and rights.
- National Children’s Day UK – Celebrates the rights and wellbeing of all children, including those with disabilities.
- International Day of Families – Recognises the critical role of families, including those caring for loved ones with a learning disability.
Links
- Visit the official Learning Disability Week page at Mencap
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
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