Celebrating Learning Disability Week: Embracing Neurodiversity and Therapeutic Approaches

Wellbeing Therapy Hut Admin
6 days ago
3 min read

Learning Disability Week is an important time to celebrate the strengths, talents, and individuality of people with learning disabilities. It also offers an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and promote inclusion across all areas of life. In the UK, Learning Disability Week is championed by Mencap and other advocacy organisations, highlighting not only the everyday experiences of people with learning disabilities but also the systemic changes needed to ensure full societal participation.

The theme for this year’s Learning Disability Week focuses on “Do you see me?” — a powerful reminder that visibility, recognition, and respect are fundamental rights, not privileges. Too often, people with learning disabilities are seen through the lens of their diagnosis, rather than as full individuals with interests, relationships, and dreams. This week calls on everyone — from educators to employers, healthcare professionals to policymakers — to acknowledge and affirm the identities of neurodivergent people.

Understanding Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity

Learning disabilities are neurologically-based conditions that affect the way people acquire and use skills such as reading, writing, reasoning, or social interaction. They are lifelong, varied, and unique to each individual. Common learning disabilities include dyslexia, dyspraxia, and more complex developmental conditions like global developmental delay or intellectual disability.

The concept of neurodiversity recognises that differences in brain functioning are natural variations of the human genome. This perspective shifts the conversation from one focused on ‘deficits’ to one that values diversity in cognition, communication, and behaviour. Within a neurodiverse framework, learning disabilities are not problems to be ‘fixed’, but aspects of an individual’s identity that may come with both challenges and strengths.

Therapeutic Support: DBT and PCT in Practice

Therapeutic interventions can play a significant role in supporting people with learning disabilities to manage emotions, develop relationships, and improve overall well-being. Two psychological approaches that hold particular promise are Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Person-Centred Therapy (PCT).

DBT and Learning Disabilities

Originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder, DBT combines cognitive-behavioural techniques with mindfulness principles. It teaches skills in four key areas: emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. For individuals with learning disabilities, DBT can be adapted using visual aids, simplified language, and interactive activities.

Importantly, DBT acknowledges emotional dysregulation as a valid response to invalidating environments — a concept that resonates with the experiences of many neurodivergent individuals. By fostering acceptance while also encouraging change, DBT supports individuals to navigate a world that often misunderstands or overlooks their needs.

PCT and Neurodiversity

Person-Centred Therapy (PCT), developed by Carl Rogers, places the client at the heart of the therapeutic process. It is grounded in the belief that individuals have the innate capacity for growth and self-understanding, provided they are in a supportive and non-judgemental environment.

For people with learning disabilities, PCT offers an empowering approach that respects autonomy, validates feelings, and prioritises relational depth. Therapists using PCT focus on unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence — three core conditions that help build trust and safety. These values are especially vital for individuals who may have faced years of being marginalised or underestimated.

PCT aligns closely with the ethos of the neurodiversity movement. Rather than imposing a “norm” that the client must conform to, it celebrates individual difference and works with the person, not the diagnosis.

Moving Forward Together

During Learning Disability Week, it is essential to recognise the importance of accessible and inclusive mental health support. Therapeutic models like DBT and PCT, when thoughtfully adapted, can offer vital resources for people with learning disabilities, promoting emotional resilience, self-worth, and a sense of belonging.

Ultimately, inclusion is not just about access — it’s about attitude. We must move beyond “awareness” and towards acceptance, affirmation, and action. Learning Disability Week is a powerful reminder that society thrives when everyone is seen, heard, and valued.