This project used the digitised UK Medical Heritage Library Corpus (UKMHLC) to generate new knowledge about the history of learning disability in the UK. The overall objective will be to make an important contribution to the growing field of interdisciplinary and participatory research about learning disabilities.

The project used a bespoke qualitative (thematic/interpretative) research methodology in addressing this objective, combining archival research with participatory focused workshops comparing the life of Antonia Grandoni, a woman from 19thC Italy who lived with a learning disability, with the lived experience of learning-disabled research participants from The Brain Charity and USW TRAC (People First) to generate new knowledge.