‘If I were given the chance’: understanding the use of leisure time by adults with learning disabilities

Abstract

Despite UK government policy emphasising the rights and choices of people with learning disabilities, opportunities to choose fulfilling leisure activities remain severely constrained. Following a brief literature review we present a co-inquiry study developing a deeper understanding of the persistent space between actual and desired use of leisure time. We explore the potential of the capability approach to aid understanding of learning disabled people’s constrained choices of leisure activities, and constrained roles as researchers, as matters of human rights and social justice.

Keywords:

• Learning disability
• leisure time
• co-inquiry
• positive risk-taking
• capability approach

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.