At 80, a learning disability campaigner wants others to reach their ‘golden age’ too

Turning 80 is a milestone for anyone. For a man with a learning disability, The Big Issue reports, it is also a statement about how much still needs to change.

The Big Issue spoke to a man from south-east London who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He spent more than three decades advocating for people with a learning disability, including work with local schools, and recently attended Mencap’s own 80th birthday celebration in London.

One in 10

According to The Big Issue, Mencap research shows just one in 10 people with a learning disability lives to 80. Reflecting on that, he said: “You don’t hear much about people with learning disabilities going on to 80 years old.”

Mencap’s chief executive told the magazine that too many people with a learning disability are still dying far too young and face poorer health outcomes. “We will never stop working to remove the barriers that shorten lives and limit opportunities,” he said.

Why it matters

Shorter lives are not an unavoidable part of having a learning disability. Charities and campaigners have long pointed to barriers in health care and wider society. A life of advocacy reaching its 80th year is something to celebrate, and a reminder that it should be ordinary, not rare.

This piece summarises reporting by The Big Issue. Read the original article for the full story.