Moving out: an opportunity for friendship and broadening social horizons?

The study investigated the changes in social activities and social networks of people with mild learning difficulties who moved from family home and from a long-stay hospital to live more independently in the community. Twenty-five people with a learning difficulty, 12 mothers and 33 members of staff participated in this study based on interviews before and after the move to the community. It was found that people with a learning difficulty participated in more community-based activities after the move but they had very few opportunities to meet non-handicapped people. Their segregation remained a main source of dissatisfaction with their social life.