The Big Conversation, Learning Disability

The first phase of The Big Conversation took place in November and December 2024, and was focused on empowering people with a learning disability to share their experiences and views. The Isle of Wight Council is updating its Learning Disability Strategy and asked Involving People to find out what was working well and what people wanted and needed to improve their well-being.

Conversationalists had interactions with people all over the Island in situations that worked best for them and where they felt safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. The Big Conversation is about positivity and co-production, and the aim of this strand was:

• to find out what is working well currently for people with learning disabilities and making them happy;
• to create an imaginative and optimistic idea of what people would like to help improve their well-being in the future. 

People were able to share their thoughts and experiences through spoken conversations, arts and crafts, writing and drawing, signs and symbols or any form of expression that they felt comfortable using.

We believe that by meeting with people in places where they felt safe and comfortable, we were able to learn about their ideas and feelings and find out what really mattered to them. The information we gathered is now being used to help to create a shared vision of what people want and need to enable them to have a happy, healthy life. 

Once our conversations were completed, the information and ideas that people provided us with were analysed and presented in a report to the Isle of Wight Council, who are now using this to help develop their Living My Life strategy.

We have also shared the report with all people and communities on the Island who were involved.

Getting involved

We’d love you to get involved and support us please, contact us to find out more.