Learning Disability
Learning Disability is a term used to describe the difficulties that some people have in learning things that others (society) expect them to learn at certain stages in their lives.
Sometimes the terms Learning Difficulty or Intellectual Disability are used instead. In the past other more negative terms have been used to describe the same people.
Learning disability is not an illness; people with a learning disability will always have a learning disability. For some people an accident or illness in early childhood may be connected to their learning disability.
Some people are born with certain conditions that lower their ability to learn as quickly or as easily as others. Some people have a learning disability due to a genetic condition, an accident or illness during pregnancy, birth or in early childhood.
Some people with a learning disability are more seriously affected than others.
Like everyone else people with learning disabilities are not all the same. They have different needs, come from all kinds of families and have varied lives.
Many people who have a learning disability also have physical ill health. They can be more likely to have physical health problems such as epilepsy. They can have sensory conditions (problems with seeing and hearing).
Autism is often included within the area of learning disability (especially in relation to Child and Adolescent Mental Health or CAMHS services) but it is a different condition. Those with autism will need support that reflects this. Some of those at the higher level of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder may have average or even above average intellectual abilities, however people who have a learning disability may also be on the Autistic Spectrum.
Some people with learning disabilities prefer to be known as having learning difficulties. They do not consider themselves learning disabled and it is important to respect this. Remember, individuals are people first and should be supported in a person centred way.