Abuse of those with learning disabilities

The appalling death of David Askew is the latest in a series of tragedies over the past year which shows how often people with learning disabilities are harassed and demeaned in public ( Report , 12 March). Your report refers to how young people "bullied him relentlessly". The sad fact is that this is the reality for thousands of people with learning disabilities across the country, and even when death isn't the result, their daily reality can be unbearable. One of our drop-in centres where people with learning disabilities meet to socialise and learn new skills is open until 5pm, and is normally teeming with activity. But at 3pm, there is a sudden exodus. The reason: everyone wants to get home before children are out of school and taunt them on public transport. Young people may be the problem, but they also need to be part of the solution. It was in response to bullying on public transport that we set up our URon Board project in Greater Manchester, where Mr Askew lived. The project supported people with learning disabilities to go into schools and tell pupils what having a disability means and how it feels to face daily harassment. Few of the children had previously known people with learning disabilities, or understood the impact of their slurs and insults. Of course, no single project will end the discrimination faced by people with learning disabilities, nor will hate-crime legislation. Educating school children is the first step towards changing this, but every one of us must face up to the truth, which is that people with disabilities in our society are too often treated as second-class citizens or worse. We cannot allow this to continue. Su Sayer chief executive, United Response