Summary
From accessing public transport to navigating the health and
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
system, people
with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
significant barriers in their lives. People with a
learning disability have worse physical and mental health than people without a
learning disability. We know that people with a learning disability in Wales are dying on
average 20 years earlier than the general population [1].
It has long been recognised that there is limited data on people with a learning
disability in Wales [2] and exploring the costs and benefits of establishing a National
Learning Disability Observatory for Wales is included as a strategic priority area in the
Welsh Government’s Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan.
This report provides a snapshot of some of the issues impacting the lives of people with
a learning disability in Wales. We urge all decision makers in Wales to read it and to
respond appropriately in their party manifestos for the 2026 Senedd
Election
An election is when people choose who should be in charge of something. This could be in charge of a group, an area, or the country. People choose by voting. The person with the most votes wins.
.