People with learning difficulties

Although by no means complete, as with disability campaigns there have been concerted efforts by advocacy organisations promoting greater participation by people with learning difficulties in community life and employment. This process began before the phrase ‘social exclusion’ took root in the UK but the objectives are the same. ‘Normalisation’ and ‘social role valorisation’ (Wolfensberger 1973) and O’Brien’s five accomplishments (1985) opened up the dialogue between ‘community’ and people with learning difficulties – the sharing of gains by increased community involvement by those with learning difficulties as they learn specific sets of social skills. The de-institutionalisation – the closure of the long-stay hospitals for the ‘mentally handicapped’ and the old adult training centres where basic, repetitive ‘employment’ was available in a highly institutional atmosphere – were gradually transformed into ‘social education centres’.