Learning Disability Week 2026: Seeing the Person, Not the Label

Learning Disability Week is a chance to celebrate the amazing people we support, challenge misconceptions, and remind ourselves that every person should be recognised for who they are - the whole version of who they are. 

This year's theme, "Do You See Me?", encouraged everyone to think about what it really means to be seen, heard, understood and valued.

Too often, people with a learning disability are defined by their diagnosis rather than their personality, talents, ambitions and relationships. At Cocklebury Farmhouse Homes, we believe every person has their own story, their own strengths and their own aspirations. Learning Disability Week gave us the opportunity to celebrate exactly that.

Art Therapy - Identifying Who we Are

One of our favourite activities this year was creating "Do You See Me?" self-portraits through our Art Therapy sessions, led by one of our incredible team members, Charlotte. 

The people we support explored both their outer appearance and the qualities that make them unique on the inside. Some chose to paint, others created collages or used different materials to express themselves, with each piece reflecting the individual rather than focusing on their support needs.

Our Art Therapy sessions are about much more than creating artwork. They encourage people to reflect on what makes them who they are and open different conversations that might not usually happen. 

It was wonderful to see everyone expressing themselves in different ways. Andrew, who usually chooses darker colours such as browns and blacks, surprised us by creating artwork using bright, vibrant colours. Renae, who often enjoys working with colouring pencils, embraced painting as a new way of expressing herself. Every piece of artwork was completely different, reflecting the individuality of the person who created it.

These portraits will now become a permanent display within our homes, helping visitors, families and professionals to see the wonderful people behind the paperwork and understand what matters most to each individual.

Seeing the Good in Each Other

We also created a "Do You See Me?" Recognition Wall, inviting everyone to celebrate the positive qualities they see in one another.

Messages included:

• "I see your kindness."

• "I see your amazing sense of humour."

• "I see how much you care about others."

It was a simple activity that had a powerful impact, reminding everyone that being recognised for who you are can build confidence, strengthen relationships and create a genuine sense of belonging.

The Power of Words

Learning Disability Week was also an opportunity for our staff teams to reflect on the language we use every day.

Simon, our Registered Manager facilitated workshops across our homes, encouraging staff to think about how words influence the experiences of the people we support. The sessions explored the importance of using respectful, person-centred language that places the individual before any diagnosis and reinforces dignity, choice and inclusion.

The workshop reinforced something we believe strongly at Cocklebury: language shapes culture, and the words we choose can help people feel valued, respected and empowered.

Bringing People Together

Throughout the week, everyone enjoyed opportunities to connect with others in the local community.

Our teams took part in the local Learning Disability Sports Day, enjoying a day filled with friendly competition, teamwork and laughter alongside other people in our community who are also proud to have a Learning Disability. The event celebrated participation, inclusion and achievement, with everyone encouraging one another to have fun and do their best.

We also challenged ourselves to be part of a larger campaign. This year, Mencap wanted to raise awareness by hosting a One Big Walk. An overview of our efforts are in another blog post, but between Monday-Friday, we walked an incredible 973,377 steps. Every step represented our commitment to promoting inclusion and raising awareness, as we submitted our results to Mencap.

Throughout the week, we captured the achievements, artwork and experiences of the people we support. With consent. we were proud to submit these to both Mencap and ARC England's marketing teams so we could be part of their national Learning Disability Week campaigns.

For the people we support, this was about much more than having their photograph taken. It was an opportunity to be part of a national movement celebrating the lives, talents and achievements of people with learning disabilities. By sharing their stories alongside organisations from across the country, they helped challenge stereotypes, promote positive representation and show the wider public what inclusion really looks like.

Knowing that their voices could reach thousands of people gave everyone a real sense of pride. It reinforced that their experiences matter, their stories deserve to be heard, and they are part of a much bigger community working towards a society where people with learning disabilities are recognised for their strengths, ambitions and contributions.

Looking Beyond the Label

Learning Disability Week reminds us that inclusion is not something that happens for just one week each year, it is something that should be part of everyday life.

The question "Do You See Me?" asks us all to look beyond assumptions and take the time to know the person.

This idea challenged us to reflect on ourselves and how we can be better too. We used Learning Disability week to reset our goals for each person we support. We worked with each person individually to understand what matters to them, and what they truly care about. The exercise created some amazing short term and long term goals. Some people have aspirations linked to holidays and experiences, and others are keen on developing further skills and independence. Each person’s goal(s) is unique to them and is a celebration of who they are and what they care about. 

Learning Disability Week 2026 gave us the opportunity to celebrate the incredible people who live in our homes, but it also reminded us of the responsibility we all have to create communities where people with learning disabilities are truly seen, heard and valued. By sharing our stories locally and nationally, we hope we have played a small part in changing perceptions and showing what is possible when people are supported to live the lives they choose.

A huge thank you to the people we support, our staff teams, families and everyone in our community who helped make this year's Learning Disability Week such a meaningful celebration. Together, we are helping to build a world where people are known not by their diagnosis, but by who they are.