The importance of relationships for people with learning disabilities ‐ in life and in research.

Accessible Summary: Many of the papers this time are all about the relationships of people with learning disabilities. This may be loving or sexual relationships, relationships with staff, research, sport or friends.This issue has the first In Response article. Here people with learning disabilities share their response to one of the papers in the issue. Everyone involved learned greatly from the process.Some of the papers are based on inclusive research – where people with learning disabilities were also researchers – and many include the experiences of people with learning disabilities.The papers highlight how loneliness can be a problem. Two papers show the challenges for people forming relationships in their new settings if they have come out from institutional care.Papers in this issue show the importance of open honest communication such as when talking about planning for the end of life. The final paper shows how staff need to be compassionate in their care roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]