Learning Disability Week is always a time for reflection, but this year’s theme – “Do You See Me?” – hits deeper than most. For those who work alongside people with learning disabilities every day, this question isn’t rhetorical.
It’s a challenge. A reminder. A responsibility.
The work of learning disability nurses is often behind the scenes. It doesn’t always make the headlines. But at its heart, it’s a role grounded in connection, courage, and care. It’s about seeing people fully – not just their diagnoses or labels, but their stories, strengths, hopes, and humanity.
The journey into this profession doesn’t always begin with a plan – mine certainly didn’t! When I was 16, I volunteered at a local residential service in Bristol for older adults with a learning disability, soon becoming a full time support worker. I realised within a matter of months that this would be where I could make the most impact – so I decided to train as a Learning Disability Nurse.
Sometimes, it starts with a conversation, a moment, or a deep feeling that more could be done – should be done – for people too often overlooked by the systems around them. Many who enter this field do so not because it’s easy, but because it matters.
Over time, the role evolves. There’s learning in every encounter. Listening becomes second nature. Advocating becomes instinctive. There’s the constant balance of clinical care with human connection. Moments of frustration are met with moments of breakthrough: a person speaking up for the first time in a care meeting, a family finally feeling heard, a young adult stepping into independent living with confidence. These are the milestones that truly matter.
Too many individuals with learning disabilities have experienced being unseen. Too many voices have gone unheard. One of the most profound parts of this work is standing beside people and helping amplify what they want and need to say. It’s not about speaking for them – it’s about creating the space where they are safe, supported, and empowered to speak for themselves.
Don’t be someone’s voice. Be their microphone.
Learning disability nursing is not just about support – it’s about belief. Belief in people’s rights, belief in their potential, and belief in a world that can do better. It’s also about holding others accountable, and helping systems see the people they’re meant to serve.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been working with Catalyst Care Group – an organisation that doesn’t just talk about person-centred care but lives and breathes it. The values are not just posters on a wall; they are practiced in boardrooms, frontline services, and quiet moments of kindness between colleagues. The impact made is collective. No one does this work alone.
Our gratitude runs deep for the teams that show up every day – not just for the people they support but for each other. Whether it’s a support worker advocating fiercely for someone’s right to choose, or a colleague offering a listening ear after a tough day, this is a field full of compassion that often goes unspoken and uncelebrated. It deserves to be seen.
Looking back, there’s pride – but not in titles or achievements. The pride comes from the lives touched, the trust built, and the quiet moments of dignity restored. These moments matter. They shape people – both those receiving care and those delivering it.
To anyone considering a future in learning disability nursing: there’s no greater privilege. The work will stretch you, challenge you, and teach you more than any textbook could. It will change your perspective on what matters most. And it will connect you with a community of people who believe deeply in fairness, inclusion, and justice.
And to the incredible individuals with learning disabilities who welcome support workers and nurses into their lives – thank you. Thank you for the trust, the honesty, the humour, and the lessons shared daily. Being part of your story is the reason this profession exists.
There is still work to be done. Health inequalities remain. Understanding and awareness must grow. But change is possible – and learning disability nurses are part of that change.
This week, and every week, may the message be loud and clear: you are seen, you are valued, and you are heard.
