On 7 May 2026, people across Wales will vote in the next Senedd (Welsh Parliament) election. This election is an important one, as decisions made by the Senedd affect healthcare, transport, social care, housing, education, employment, and community support.
Each of the main political parties has created a manifesto – a document sharing what they want to do if they win the election and create the next Welsh Government.
There can be a lot of information in these documents, so we wanted to share the key points that may affect people with a learning disability in Wales.
Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru’s manifesto commitments include:
- Committing to making the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system simpler
- Making ALN training a requirement for school staff
- Supporting a Minister of the Senedd to focus on public health and prevention
- Improving community based care and independent living.
Plaid Cymru supports incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons (UNCRPD) into Welsh law, which would help to strengthen disabled people’s rights in Wales. They also pledge support for the Stolen Lives campaign and to ‘act on recommendations’ made by the Task and Finish Group.
Reform Wales
Reform Wales’ manifesto commitments include:
- Cutting waiting lists for planned care
- Improving access to GP services
- Preventing people being cared for in hospital corridors.
Reform don’t directly mention people with a learning disability in the manifesto but do show commitment to improving NHS services in Wales.
Welsh Conservatives
The Welsh Conservatives manifesto commitments include:
- Increased spending on health and social care
- Creation of a single Health and Social Care Inspectorate
- Improving the education system to hold schools accountable and give parents more choice.
While there is commitment from the Welsh Conservatives to spend more money on health, social care and education, there are limited references to learning disability or self advocacy in the manifesto.
Wales Green Party
The Wales Green Party’s manifesto commitments include:
- Strengthening the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system
- Delivering a long-term Disabled People’s Rights Plan
- Supporting a Minister for Disabled People.
The Wales Green Party don’t directly mention people with a learning disability but do want to extend the National Neurodivergence Improvement Programme.
Welsh Labour
Welsh Labour’s manifesto commitments include:
- Training school staff to support learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN)
- Investing in health and social care, including community based services
- Promises to reduce long waits for neurodevelopmental assessments
- Creating a new Learning Disability and Autism Employment Strategy
Welsh Labour refers to ‘ensuring a home is not a hospital’ for people with a learning disability and autistic people. This has been influenced by the Stolen Lives Task and Finish Group. They also pledge to support people into employment through ‘tailored job coaching and support for employers’ influenced by the Engage to Change project.
Welsh Liberal Democrats
The Welsh Liberal Democrats’ manifesto commitments include:
- More funding for social care to reduce pressure on families
- Support for unpaid carers, many of whom may support people with a learning disability
- Improving access to community health services.
While there is nothing specific about learning disability in this manifesto, the Welsh Liberal Democrats emphasise the importance of improving local services and early support, which directly affects people with a learning disability.
You can also use the BBC ‘Who should I vote for?’ tool to compare the parties’ manifestos.
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