Ignorance ‘a barrier to progress’

IGNORANCE among people of so-called normal intelligence remains the single greatest barrier to progress for people with learning disabilities, according to a worldwide study by the Special Olympics organisation.

A survey of nine countries, including Ireland, found widespread negative perceptions about intellectual disability with many respondents underestimating the capabilities of intellectually disabled people and having unnecessarily low expectations of them.

Special Olympics president Timothy Shriver described the findings, published to coincide with the World Games taking place here, as "unacceptable" but said they strengthened the resolve of disability campaigners to fight prejudice.