A journal has been published with a selection of articles edited and peer reviewed by people with learning disabilities, in what is thought to be a first for academia anywhere in the world.
A University of Manchester team of academics and people with learning disabilities worked together on the British Journal of Learning Disabilities edition, which is published this week.
Team member Dr Rohhss Chapman said the project shows it is possible to make research into learning disability much more inclusive.
Lou Townson, works with People First, which helps people with learning difficulties in Cumbria, is one of five members of The University of Manchester team who has learning difficulties. She said: “As someone with learning difficulties, I feel that there is nothing we can’t do, we just might need a bit more support.
“In terms of working with researchers, it’s isn’t usually the information which is difficult to understand but the way it is presented. We learned a lot by working on this on this journal.
“People with learning difficulties do have a valuable contribution to make to academic research into learning difficulty and I hope our work helps to make the case.”
The editor of the Journal, Professor Duncan Mitchell who is based at Manchester Metropolitan University said: “This special edition is significant because it explores ways in which people with learning disabilities can engage in research and ensure that papers that are about them are written and reviewed by them.”
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