Samuel Ayer obituary

Samuel Ayer, a Ghanaian-born British citizen, dedicated his life to the care and support of vulnerable children and adults. His research made significant contributions to the shift from institutional to community-based care for individuals with learning disabilities. Ayer's doctoral thesis, "Community Care and the Mentally Handicapped" (1984), highlighted the crucial role of mothers in providing care for children with learning disabilities. He played a key role in the English National Board for Nursing and Midwifery's research program on the development of nursing for people with learning disabilities. Born in Akropong, Ghana, Ayer lived most of his life in Britain, but remained proud of his Ghanaian heritage and continued to speak his native language, Twi, with family and friends. After attending the Methodist school in Akropong, he trained as a teacher at the Presbyterian Training College (now the Presbyterian College of Education) and became a specialist in teaching blind children, committed to improving the lives of visually impaired students.