Understanding the information needs of the learning disabled on behalf of a local authority service provider.

Examples of our Work - Government and Local Authority Market Research

Background

This research explored the information needs of the learning disabled and the effectiveness of different methods of communication. The aim of the research was to enable the client (a local authority in the North of England) to produce a guide demonstrating best practice in making information accessible to the learning disabled. Additional members of the team on the project included two specialists in understanding the needs of the learning disabled and they acted as consultants to PCP.

Objectives

The objectives of the research were to explore and understand:

• The information needs of the learning disabled.

• The advantages and disadvantages of different methods of communicating information.

• The views of managers at day centres as to the adequacy of the facilities currently available to communicate information

Methodology

The project reviewed past work carried out in this field as well as undertaking some original research amongst both the learning disabled themselves and the staff at the day centre they attended.

Face-to-face depth interviews were conducted with selected local organisations such as Mencap and with professionals working at various day centres in the area. These interviews helped to understand current practices used to communicate information and the perceived effectiveness of each. Satisfaction with current facilities, and possible new methods of communication, were also explored.

 A second stage of research was then conducted amongst the learning disabled themselves. This research consisted of a series of 12 face-to-face depth interviews which were attended by the mentor as well as the person with the disability and which lasted about 30 minutes each. Discussion covered the type of information the respondents were interested in and whether they were currently able to obtain all they would like to know under each heading. The respondents were then invited to examine information put together using a number of different methods of communication, including audio as well as written material. The material used was developed from the ideas generated by the earlier depth interviews with the professionals. This part of the interview proved extremely useful in understanding how the learning disabled responded to different methods of communication.

Outcome

The research enabled us to make recommendations to the council of best practice in this field based on a combination of the findings from previously published work and our own original research.