This report seeks to highlight the perspectives of family carers within the development of a national strategy for people with learning disabilities. The report represents a synthesis of a broad range of views, collected through consultation workshops, correspondence, conversations with family carers, and a review of the relevant literature.
Families have an important and unique contribution to the discussion of the future direction of services for men and women with learning disabilities. They are the only people who will have a continuous relationship with the person with a learning disability from childhood to adulthood.
This contribution needs to be acknowledged, valued, listened to, and acted upon.