Columnist – Ciara Lawrence

“We want the UK to be the best place for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.” That is Mencap’s new vision which is part…

Columnist – Ciara Lawrence

People with a learning disability can face severe health inequalities throughout their life – which often start in childhood.   In December 2020, M…

Columnist – Ciara Lawrence

Mencap’s Treat Me Well campaign began in February 2018 and aims to transform how the NHS treats people with a learning disability. The campaign is cal…

Ciara Lawrence – Columnist

With the start of the New Year, it’s important to think about what we want in the 12 months ahead. For many people, January is a fresh chance to focus…

Columnist Ciara Lawrence – Babies

I come from a very close family, which has always been the most important thing to me. Starting my own family is something I’ve thought about and I’ve…

Columnist Ciara Lawrence – Sex and Relationships

It all started for me when I was 10 years old. I was a flower girl at my cousin’s wedding and I saw the love between her and her husband. I felt like …

Columnist Ciara Lawrence: It’s cool to be different

For so long I was just watching the world pass me by. From a really young age I just felt like no one understood me, except for my close family, aka m…

Columnist Ciara Lawrence: How I got here

I am 39 years old and I work as a campaigns support officer at learning disability charity, Mencap. I have a husband, a hamster and I’m a Kylie Minogu…