Adults with capacity and communication difficulties are underrepresented in research, says Karen Bunning
The pandemic has shown that society often fails its most vulnerable members. How best to protect such individuals frequently eludes those in positions to do so, and many vulnerable people struggle to articulate their needs.
This also applies to research. Adults with conditions affecting capacity and communication, such as intellectual disabilities, autism, dementia and brain injury, find the demands of decision-making around participation and consent challenging.