The annual campaign, led by the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD), is guided by people with lived experience. This year’s theme, I Am Here, highlighted the importance of visibility, recognition and inclusion. The message reflects ongoing concerns that many people with learning disabilities continue to feel excluded from employment, healthcare and social opportunities.

To mark the week, Hillcrest Futures held a conversation café at its Activities Hub in Dundee. People supported by Hillcrest Futures joined staff and managers to talk about what inclusion means to them, using conversation cue cards to spark open discussions. They also took part in activity sheets and mindfulness exercises.

Lynda Imrie, operations manager at Hillcrest Futures, said: “The café created a welcoming space where people felt comfortable sharing their views and experiences. It was uplifting to see so much engagement, and it reinforced how important it is that inclusion is part of everyday life.”

The event also gave participants the chance to share feedback on Hillcrest Futures’ biannual newsletter. Their views will help shape and improve future editions.

A buffet lunch was enjoyed by all, and the event concluded with cupcakes decorated in the theme of Scottish Learning Disability Week, baked by one of Hillcrest Futures’ support workers.

Alongside the café, Hillcrest staff and the people they support shared personal pledges throughout the week, each expressing a commitment to inclusion and positive change. These pledges were brought together on a dedicated Pledge Wall on Hillcrest’s website.

John Booth, director of Hillcrest Futures, added: “Scottish Learning Disability Week is an important reminder that inclusion must be more than words. Through events like this, we can listen, learn and make meaningful progress alongside the people we support.”