1. What is Learning Disability? Learning disability is a term that is used o describe the difficulties that some people have in learning things that Society expects them to learn at certain stages in their lives. Some people are born with certain impairments that restrict their ability to learn some things, as quickly or as readily as others. Learning disability is not an illness or disease, it is a permanent condition. A Learning disability does not stop someone from learning or achieving a full life, given the right support.

2. What is Learning Disability? ‘Learning disability’ is an umbrella term covering many different intellectual disabilities. It means that a person’s capacity to learn is affected and that they may not learn things as quickly as other people. Sometimes a learning disability is called a learning difficulty, intellectual impairment or intellectual disability. There are many different types of learning disability. Some learning disabilities are caused by inherited conditions – the most common example being Down’s syndrome. But the causes of most learning disabilities are not known.

3. There are about 1.5 million people in the UK who have a learning disability. This is about 3 in 100 people. This figure is increasing. 200 babies are born every week with a learning disability. Learning disability is often confused with other conditions, such as Asperger’s syndrome or cerebral palsy, epilepsy-None of these is a learning disability, all are common amongst learning disability population.

4. At Leeds Advocacy we use a broad definition and include all such conditions. This is because we are not focused on particular impairments or socially constructed categories. we are focused on the similar barriers to citizenship all such disabled people face.

5. What problems/barriers can people with a learning disability face? They do not enjoy equal access to essential services such as health, education and employment. -Four times as many people with learning disabilities die of preventable causes as people in the general population -72% of adults with learning disabilities went to segregated schools -17% of people with learning disabilities who are of working age have a paid job (compared to 63% of general population) They frequently face harassment or are victims of crime Their abilities and needs are often not understood by the general public, businesses, the media or national and local government. They face discrimination even before birth - Abortion Law, genetic testing, prenatal screening

6. THE DIGNITY OF RISK What if you never got to make a mistake? What if your money was always kept in an envelope where you couldn’t get it? What if you were always treated like a child? What if your only chance to be with people different from you, was with your own family? What if the job you did was not useful? What if you never got to make a decision? What if the only risky thing you could do was to ‘act out’? What if someone told you you can’t go out because it is raining? What if you took the wrong bus once and now you not allowed to use buses? What if you got into trouble and were sent away and you couldn’t come back because they all remember you as ‘trouble’? What if you worked and got 46p per hour? What if you had to wear your winter coat even when it was hot-because it was the only one you had? What if you had no privacy? What if you could do part of your shopping but weren’t allowed to do any-because you weren’t able to do all the shopping? What if you spent three hours every day just waiting-on your own? What if the T.V. in your house was always on and most of the programmes were things you weren’t interested in? What if you grew old and never knew adulthood? What if you nobody ever talked to you in your own language? What if the only time you were ever alone was whilst you were asleep? What if you never got a chance?

7. What is important to us is to see the person, not the impairment. To see competencies not incompetencies We are here to support people to tackle barriers which may be to do with access, information, control, attitudes, rights, participation… This places our work squarely within a Social Model of Disability………..

8. Definitions of learning disability on the Web:  a disorder that affects people's ability to either interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. www.sharp.com/healthinfo/content.cfm  He or she learns differently than most people. Learning is more difficult than it is for most people. It is diagnosed under four criteria: www.siena.edu/level3col.aspx www.siena.edu/level3col.aspx  A disorder in basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an... www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/systems/ncands/ncands98/glossary/glossary.htm www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/systems/ncands/ncands98/glossary/glossary.htm  (LD): A persistent condition of presumed neurological dysfunction which may exist with other disabling conditions. This dysfunction continues despite instruction in standard classroom situations. To be categorized as having a learning disability, a student must exhibit: www.solano.edu/counseling/DSP_Handbook/Glossary.doc www.solano.edu/counseling/DSP_Handbook/Glossary.doc  A condition that either prevents or significantly hinders somebody from learning basic skills or information at the same rate as most people of the same age. www.understandingnf1.org/glossary/index.html www.understandingnf1.org/glossary/index.html  a specific difference in learning that leads to underachievement in school www.sbhasa.ca/MedicalQA/definitions.htm www.sbhasa.ca/MedicalQA/definitions.htm  when a person has an average or above intelligence but has difficulty in processing information. www.nfincmn.org/glossary.htm www.nfincmn.org/glossary.htm  In the United States, the term learning disability is used to refer to socio-biological conditions that affect a persons communicative capacities and potential to learn.... www.answers.com/topic/glossary-of-education-related-terms-g-l www.answers.com/topic/glossary-of-education-related-terms-g-l

9.  A person with this disability exhibits unexpected discrepancy between potential and actual achievement. Performs poorly because of difficulty in one or more of the following areas: listening, speaking, reading, written expression, mathematics, and reasoning.... www.web4.org/WappingersSEPAC/Definitions.htm www.web4.org/WappingersSEPAC/Definitions.htm  An individual with a learning disability has difficulty with the messages to the brain becoming jumbled, thus making it difficult for the individual to learn in one or more of the academic areas. People with a leaning disability do not have mental retardation nor are they slow learner.... www.eaglemount.us/html/Disabilities%20Definitions.htm www.eaglemount.us/html/Disabilities%20Definitions.htm  any of a variety of disorders, including hyperactivity, dyslexia, and hearing problems, that can interfere with a person's ability to learn www.american-depot.com/services/resources_gl_l.asp www.american-depot.com/services/resources_gl_l.asp  A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities thought to be due to central nervous system dysfunction. wps.ablongman.com/ab_disorders_supersite/234/59908.cw/index.html wps.ablongman.com/ab_disorders_supersite/234/59908.cw/index.html  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/learning_disability www.123exp-health.com/t/01084060851/ www.123exp-health.com/t/01084060851/  learning disorder: a disorder found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn  In the United States and Canada, the term learning disability (LD) refers to a group of disorders that affect a broad range of academic and functional skills including the ability to speak, listen, read, write, spell, reason and organize information. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning disability en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning disability Definitions of learning disability on the Web:

10. Categorising people with learning disabilities by measuring their IQ alone does not take into account how well they cope day to day or acknowledge their potential. Categorising people with learning disabilities by measuring their IQ alone does not take into account how well they cope day to day or acknowledge their potential. People with learning disabilities often find it difficult to function independently in society and to communicate with other people. People with learning disabilities often find it difficult to function independently in society and to communicate with other people. It is important to see someone with a learning disability as part of society and to consider what she or he needs from society so they are included. This may be particular kinds of support or positive social attitudes which enable them to reach their potential. It is important to see someone with a learning disability as part of society and to consider what she or he needs from society so they are included. This may be particular kinds of support or positive social attitudes which enable them to reach their potential.

11. WHAT IS LEARNING DISABILITY? There is no single definition which is used by everybody. The term is really a label which is understood differently by different people or groups. Some people prefer the term “learning difficulties”. The following descriptions may be helpful: All people are different. We vary in height, weight, temperament and ability. We find some things difficult, and some things easy. People with learning difficulties find it harder than other people to learn to do things like cook, handle money, use a bus. They also find it harder to learn other social skills like knowing when and how to talk to strangers.

12. A small number of people - less than 1% of the whole population - have more severe intellectual disabilities. They may need a great deal of help with ordinary tasks, and may not be able to use words to express how they feel. They may also face increased discrimination and exclusion. People with an intellectual disability have been given many labels, including ‘mentally handicapped’, but they now say that, if they must have a label, it should be ‘people with learning difficulties [or disabilities]’. Mistaken beliefs have caused tremendous suffering to people with learning difficulties. They are often assumed not to have the same feelings and needs as other people, and have often been shut away from the rest of society