Welcome to the
Scottish
Learning Disabilities
Observatory
The Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory was set up to generate evidence and build understanding of the causes of poor health and health inequalities experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Alongside this we deliver a programme of world-class, evidence-informed teaching.
More about usHealth and care experiences
In this short film people with learning disabilities tell us about their experiences of health and health care.
News
New survey about living with Diabetes and Learning Disability
Diabetes UK, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Glasgow are working in partnership to understand more about what is most important in the lives of people with lived experience of learning disabilities (Types 1 and 2) and diabetes. The research team have developed a survey to gather information about how people with learning disabilities manage their diabetes and what their priorities are. This information will be used to help inform research and practice, and address the issues that matter most to people with learning disabilities and diabetes.
SLDO hosts international workshop on pain care for people with learning disabilities
On 17th June we will be hosting an international workshop on pain care for people with learning and developmental disabilities. We will welcome guest speakers, Tim Oberlander, Frank Symonds, Brian McGuire and Chantel Burkitt along with SLDO Doctoral student Christine Pacitti to share their expertise in this area of health research. Find out more about the speakers and how to register.
SLDO team receives international collaboration award
Dr Arlene McGarty and Professor Deborah Cairns from the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory recently received the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) International Collaboration award to strengthen relations with the University of Adger and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Norway.
After a successful visit to Norway in January, researchers from the University of Adger and NTNU joined Deborah and Arlene in Glasgow in March to discuss their planned research on cardiovascular health in adults with learning disabilities, along with discussions about future collaborations based on their expertise in digital health and disabilities.
Glasgow-Sydney collaboration to improve access to colorectal cancer screening for people with learning disabilities
Professor Deborah Cairns and Dr Lauren Fulton recently visited with colleagues at the University of Sydney to further develop their collaborative project, 'Leveraging AI to support colorectal cancer screening for people with a learning disability'. This study aims to use voice AI technology to answer people’s questions about bowel screening in real time and
direct them to accessible screening resources, with the ultimate aim to increase access to screening among people with learning disabilities. Further collaborative work is planned between the University of Glasgow and University of Sydney to address the low uptake of cancer screening among people with learning disabilities. The team from the University of Sydney will visit Glasgow in June.
Drumming Up Change: new film launched February 2025
On 27th February we premiered the new film about Drumming Up Change with a screening and a Q&A with the project members. Drumming Up Change is a collaborative project involving SLDO colleagues Prof Andrew Jahoda and Roseann Maguire, with Fortune Works, Drumchapel High School and Strathclyde University. Drumming Up Change is about bringing young people and people with learning disabilities together through community activities in Drumchapel. You can now view the new film via https://bit.ly/41jmfFP and find out more about Drumming Up Change via www.drummingupchange.co.uk
Avoidable deaths in adults with learning disabilities
The latest findings from the Observatory show that young adults with learning disabilities are 9 times more likely to die prematurely from treatable or preventable conditions, compared to adults without learning disabilities. Found out more about this research
Latest SLDO research
Reports & publications
We publish reports relevant to learning disabilities and autism policy and practice.
View our full list of reports and publications here.
Population profiles
Population characteristics
26,349
with learning disabilities
31,712
with autism
5,295,402
all people
Health
15.2%
with learning disabilities
37.4%
with autism
52.5%
all people
Housing and accomodation
11,886
Rented from council or housing association
8,927
Private ownership
2,203
Rented privately or living rent free
Employment and Education
12,098
Long term sick or disabled
2,460
in paid employment
1,975
students
1,934
retired
2,648
other
Family
53.3%
with learning disabilities
82.7%
with autism
78.3%
all people
Health and social care spending
2014/15
£250,188,001
Health care spending
£697,310,000
Social care spending
Other topics
Country of birth
25,599
with learning disabilities
30,689
with autism
4,926,119
all people
Language spoken at home
321
with learning disabilities
465
with autism
80,791
all people
Ethnicity
20,875
with learning disabilities
26,842
with autism
4,382,131
all people