Our Learning Difficulties

Abstract

Following mention of people with learning difficulties who are inappropriately confined in psychiatric hospitals, the lives are described of four people with learning difficulties who live in the community in the west of Ireland. It is argued from statistics published in the report Needs and Abilities (1991) that if they lived in any other Health Board Region in Ireland they would be likely to be living in institutions. ‘Quality of life’ and ‘service costs’ are related from an unconventional and challenging standpoint. Finally, the role of psychologists in respect of community education and the mobilizing of public opinion is described as crucial to achieving better and more participative services.