Research

We conduct research into disabled people with complex needs in the UK, to better understand the number of people who require support.

A young child smiling wearing noise cancelling ear muffs

2026: MSI teacher shortage in England

Over half of local authorities in England do not employ any MSI teachers.
A young man sitting in his wheelchair wearing a yellow top.

2025: Lived experience

New research to better understand what life is like for disabled people with complex needs
A young boy with blonde wavy hair and blue glasses grins as he holds a drum stick, about to bang a drum. A Sense support worker wearing a purple Sense polo shirt smiles at him and supports him to sit up.

2025: From crisis to care

Making social care work for disabled children. Our new research seeks to better understand the experiences of families when trying to access social care support for their disabled child.
A man in a wheelchair and a woman smiling at each other.

2024: Complex needs in the UK

For the first time, an analysis of how many people there are in the UK with complex disabilities.
Three woman dancing in a line on a sunny day. The lady in the front is wearing a pink sash

2024: Potential and Possibility – what needs to change

2024 research reveals what people with complex disabilities want to change to improve their lives in the UK.
A woman and a man standing and smiling in a park. She is giving a thumbs up and he is holding a flower.

2023: The impact of the cost of living

70% of people with complex disabilities are worried about how they will cope financially over the winter months.
A man wearing a white tshirt with cartoons on laughs to camera as he lies down on a large red cushion. Behind him, a woman wearing a purple top and blue apron smiles.

2023: Potential and Possibility – what needs to change

Our annual research reveals what disabled people want to change to improve their lives in the UK
A young woman sits working at her laptop with her female colleague.

2023: Employment support

Our 2023 research identifies the barriers disabled people face in the labour market and sets out what needs to change to close this employment gap.  
A young man and an older woman are using the Deafblind manual together. In the background there are some coloured hanging flags.

2022: Deafblindness statistics in the UK

This 2022 study reveals the number of people in the UK who are deafblind and who have CHARGE or Usher syndrome.

2022: Complex needs and the cost of living

The findings from our October 2022 analysis of the cost of living and complex disabilities.

Get in touch

If you’d like to learn more or speak with one of our team, please contact [email protected].

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