Learning Disability Week 2024

In 2024 the Mencap media team wanted to do something for Learning Disability Week that would challenge perceptions and celebrate people with a learning disability, as part of our 'Do You See Me?' campaign. People with a learning disability told us they felt unseen, marginalised and ignored by society. Mencap joined up with The Big Issue magazine to co-create the first ever magazine issue entirely co-produced by people with a learning disability - which would focus on the positive stories around living with a learning disability, as well as some of the challenges that people can face.

Both we and The Big Issue team were committed to ensuring it was totally authentic and representative of the people we support. It was vital that contributors were the heroes of the magazine and given a platform that wasn’t patronising.​ We wanted to represent a range of learning disabilities and the intersectionality of race and gender from the perspective of people with a learning disability, as well as those with a hidden disability.

The issue achieved over 200 pieces of media coverage, including broadcast coverage on ITV news and Channel 5 news.