This background report accompanied by ‘Data on the lives of people with learning disabilities in Scotland: Short term actions for change‘, represents the first outputs from our second programme of research looking at the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Whilst our previous programme of work highlighted barriers and inequalities, this programme is aimed at finding solutions and evidence to enable change. Supporting how data and statistical coverage of people with a learning disability can be improved in Scotland is a key focus, and to be able to inform this it is important that we look beyond Scotland to understand what works well and what the common challenges are elsewhere.
This background report provides an overview of the definitions and data collected for people with learning disabilities in the other nations across the UK. It also summarises how these countries and other developed nations who are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) fair in terms of the availability of relevant data which can be routinely used to inform effective policy.
Authors
David is a Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, he worked in a range of analytical positions across the public sector, primarily as a statistician.
Ciara is an Associate Economist at the Fraser of Allander Institute. She has a broad research experience across different areas including poverty and inequality, the voluntary sector, health, education, trade, and renewables and climate change. Ciara has an MSc in Applied Economics (Distinction) and a first-class BA Honour’s degree in Economics and Finance, both from the University of Strathclyde.
Emma Congreve is a Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow and Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Emma's work at the Institute is focussed on policy analysis, covering a wide range of areas of social and economic policy. Emma is an experienced economist and has previously held roles as a senior economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and as an economic adviser within the Scottish Government.
Chirsty is a Knowledge Exchange Associate at the Fraser of Allander Institute where she primarily works on projects related to employment and inequality.