Do You See Me? A School’s Guide to Learning Disability Week and Inclusive Play
What Is Learning Disability Week?
Learning Disability Week is an annual awareness campaign organised by Mencap to celebrate the lives, achievements and contributions of people with learning disabilities while raising awareness of the challenges they continue to face.
From 15 to 21 June 2026, Mencap Learning Disability Week 2026 invites us all to consider a powerful question: "Do you see me?"
The campaign highlights the importance of ensuring that people with a learning disability are seen, heard, and valued in every aspect of life. It is about visibility, belonging, opportunity and challenging barriers to inclusion wherever they exist.
For schools, this theme offers an important opportunity to reflect on how inclusive their environments really are. For us as playground designers, it is a reminder that great play spaces should help every child feel recognised, supported and able to participate.
At Phoenix Play, we believe outdoor environments have a unique role to play in creating meaningful inclusion. Through thoughtful design, accessible play provision and sensory-rich experiences, playgrounds can become places where every child feels they belong.
Why Is Learning Disability Week Important?
While significant progress has been made, many people with learning disabilities still face barriers to participation, education, employment and social opportunities.
For schools, Learning Disability Week provides an opportunity to examine how inclusive education strategies are being implemented across both indoor and outdoor environments. Inclusion is not simply about access. It is about belonging.
Children with learning disabilities should have opportunities to play, learn, communicate and build friendships alongside their peers. When schools create environments that support visibility for SEND pupils, they help foster confidence, independence and positive wellbeing outcomes.
Outdoor spaces can be particularly powerful because they provide opportunities for self-expression, exploration and social interaction in ways that traditional classroom settings sometimes cannot.
How Can I Get Involved in Learning Disability Week?
Schools can support Learning Disability Week in a variety of meaningful ways:
- Host assemblies exploring the "Do you see me?" theme.
- Celebrate the achievements and strengths of pupils with learning disabilities.
- Review current inclusion practices and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Engage pupils in conversations about diversity, empathy and belonging.
- Audit outdoor environments to ensure accessible play provision is available to all learners.
- Create activities that promote collaboration and shared play experiences.
Most importantly, schools can listen to the voices of children and young people with SEND when making decisions about their learning and play environments.
How Does Outdoor Play Help Children With Learning Disabilities Feel "Seen"?
Play is one of the most natural ways for children to express themselves, build relationships and develop confidence.
For many children with learning disabilities, outdoor play can provide opportunities to succeed, communicate and engage in ways that feel meaningful and enjoyable.
When designed thoughtfully, inclusive outdoor play spaces can help children:
Build Confidence and Independence
Age-appropriate challenges encourage children to explore their abilities and celebrate personal achievements.
Develop Friendships
Shared play experiences help children connect with peers, develop communication skills and strengthen social relationships.
Support Emotional Wellbeing
Outdoor environments provide opportunities for movement, regulation and sensory engagement that support emotional development.
Showcase Individual Strengths
Not every child shines in the same way. Outdoor play often allows children to demonstrate creativity, problem solving, leadership and resilience in ways that may not always emerge in classroom settings.
These experiences help children feel recognised, respected and valued.
In other words, they help answer the question: "Do you see me?" with a confident yes.
What Are the Best Outdoor Sensory Activities for Learning Disability Week?
Learning Disability Week presents an excellent opportunity to celebrate inclusion through outdoor experiences.
Some effective sensory activities include:
Sensory Discovery Trails
Encourage pupils to explore different textures, sounds, colours and natural materials throughout the playground.
Musical Play Activities
Outdoor musical instruments create opportunities for creative expression, collaboration and communication.
Nature-Based Exploration
Gardening activities, wildlife investigations and sensory planting areas help children connect with the natural world.
Collaborative Play Challenges
Team-based games encourage communication, problem solving and relationship building.
How Can Schools Use "Do You See Me?" to Audit Their Playground Inclusivity?
The theme of Learning Disability Week provides a useful framework for reviewing outdoor environments. Schools can ask themselves:
Are All Pupils Able to Participate?
Consider whether children with different physical, cognitive and sensory needs can access and enjoy play opportunities.
Have We Made Reasonable Adjustments in the Playground?
Just as schools make adjustments within classrooms, outdoor spaces should also be reviewed to ensure reasonable adjustments in the playground support meaningful participation.
Does Our Playground Offer Choice?
Children benefit from having access to active, social, creative and calming experiences rather than a one-size-fits-all environment.
Do We Have Accessible Play Provision?
Accessible play provision should enable children of differing abilities to play together, rather than creating separate experiences.
Have We Consulted Pupils?
One of the most effective ways to understand inclusion is to ask children directly about their experiences of the playground.
Do Our Spaces Promote Visibility for SEND Pupils?
Inclusive environments should celebrate difference and ensure every child has opportunities to contribute, participate and be recognised within the school community.
Designing Playgrounds That Challenge Barriers to Inclusion
At Phoenix Play, we know that creating truly inclusive outdoor environments starts with understanding the children who will use them. Every school community is different. Every child has unique strengths, interests and support needs. That is why we work closely with schools to design environments that support learning, wellbeing and participation for all pupils. From sensory playground equipment for SEND pupils through to carefully planned sensory zoning, we help schools create spaces that promote belonging and challenge barriers to inclusion. Because inclusive design is not about meeting minimum standards, it is about creating places where every child feels welcome, every voice matters, and every learner can thrive.
Creating Spaces Where Every Child Is Seen, Heard, and Valued
The message behind Mencap Learning Disability Week 2026 is one that extends far beyond a single week in June. "Do you see me?" challenges all of us to look carefully at the environments we create and the experiences we provide.
For schools, it is an opportunity to reflect on whether playgrounds truly support inclusion. For playground designers, it is a reminder that our work is ultimately about people, not products. And for every child, it is about knowing that they belong.
Through inclusive outdoor play spaces, accessible play provision and thoughtful inclusive education strategies, we can help ensure that every child is seen, heard, and valued, not just during Learning Disability Week, but every day of the year.
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