As one of the most stigmatised groups in England

people with learning disabilities have faced social exclusion for a long time. Self – advocacy is one form of advocacy used for people with learning disabilities. The self – advocacy movement was spread in the early 1970’s in England

and helped people with learning disabilities to speak out. This paper reviews the relevant literature to summarise academic researches of people with learning disabilities

social exclusion and self – advocacy

draws upon the arguments from those

while employing the qualitative methods at a self – advocacy group in the North East of England. It shows the findings with nine major themes

from a qualitative research with one focus group

six interviews and one observation with thirteen members with learning disabilities and three support workers. This paper presents a snapshot of a moment of a self – advocacy group of people with learning disabilities and support workers on their way to reducing social exclusion for people with learning disabilities by self – advocacy in England. And it explores this group’s achievements

developments

skills

methods

activities

difficulties and barriers

and calls for self – advocacy groups and the whole of society to work together to reduce the social exclusion of people with learning disabilities in England.