Survey to explore the life experiences of people with learning disabilities in Scotland is now open!
Launched on May 16th, ‘How’s Life?’ was developed by The Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD) along with a number of partner organisations:
- ARC Scotland
- Down’s Syndrome Scotland
- ENABLE Scotland
- Key
- PAMIS
- People First (Scotland)
As well as giving people with learning disabilities (over the age of sixteen) the chance to have their say about what is important in their life, the survey will give invaluable information which can help inform future policy and research.
What is it?
In May 2019, the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD) launched a survey for people with learning disabilities living in Scotland. We hope as many people with learning disabilities as possible will respond, and we are looking for organisations to help in whatever way they can. This survey has been developed with the help of Ipsos Mori, and with a number of partners.
This survey will give people with learning disabilities (over the age of sixteen) the chance to have a say about their own lives. It will cover topics including:
- Family and friends
- What you do with your time
- Life satisfaction
- Where you live
Why are we doing it?
This survey will allow us to get a sense of how people with learning disabilities rate their overall well-being, and understand some of the factors that impact on it. The survey findings will help to guide future evidence gathering and policy interventions, with the aspiration that this will help improve people’s quality of life.
The last large scale survey of people with learning disabilities in Scotland took place in 2006. It is important to get a renewed sense of how life is for people with learning disabilities. We hope that this survey will spark further conversations and discussions.
How are we doing it?
People can take part in the survey in a number of ways:
- Partner organisations will be supporting the distribution of the survey
- SCLD will distribute paper copies of the survey on request - email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0141 248 3733 to receive a copy (including a freepost envelope)
- People can complete the survey online at www.scld.org.uk/what-we-do/scotlands-learning-disability-survey/
- Paper copies of the survey can be downloaded from the SCLD website.
People can be supported to complete the survey by a friend, family member or paid worker.
The survey will close on Monday 30th September 2019.
How can you help as an organsation?
We hope that as an organisation you can support the effort to maximise the number of responses. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Promote the survey through your own communication channels e.g. website, newsletter, social media.
- Distribute the survey to the people you support. SCLD can send as many paper copies of the survey as you wouldlike to a central location point e.g. head office. If you are a nationalorganisation or have a number of distribution points, we candeliver as many copies as you would like to each point. We wouldthen ask that team leaders, support workers or advocacy workers explain what the survey is. Information about the survey in easy read is also included in each pack.
- Support individuals to complete the survey if needed. It will bevery helpful if your organisation has the capacity to do this,whether someone needs help to read the questions, record theanswers, or return the questionnaire in the envelope provided. Ineach pack there is guidance for anyone supporting a person tocomplete the questionnaire.
Some people might prefer to complete the online version, and might need some support to do this.