<p>In 2000, there were an estimated 6.6 million ‘long-term’ disabled people of working age in the UK (Woolnough 2001). People with learning disabilities account for a small but significant minority of this population. It is also estimated that disabled people are seven times more likely than their non-disabled counterparts to be unemployed and claiming benefits; this figure being significantly higher for those with learning disabilities (Weston 2002). Although there are no reliable statistics, it is probable that less than 10 per cent of people with learning disabilities are in employment (Department of Health (DH) 2001).</p>