In the 1980s there was growing interest in the topic of ageing and learning disabilities, for two principal reasons. First, the life expectancy of people with learning disabilities had risen significantly over the previous decades and many, once infancy had been survived, could expect a life span similar to that of non-disabled people. Secondly, a growing commitment on the part of the government and service providers to make provision for people with disabilities in the community rather than in institutions, had focused attention on this group.