A learning disability is different for everyone. No two people are the same. Challenges faced by people with learning disabilities can vary widely. In all cases a learning disability is lifelong.
A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things throughout their life. Many people who have a learning disability can get qualifications, work, have loving relationships, and live independently. Some people with a learning disability might need more support throughout their life.
Someone with a learning disability can experience barriers to accessing to their human rights including education, employment, relationships, and family life.
For a diagnosis of learning disability, the person will have all three of the following areas of need:
1. They will have a significant impairment of intellectual functioning.
Examples of difficulties might be understanding complex information and learning/remembering new things. The person is likely to have attended a school for additional support needs and almost certainly not have achieved Nat 5 qualifications or similar.
2. They will have difficulties in day to day skills.
This can include managing personal care, maintaining a home, managing money, going out in the community, and interacting safely with others.
3. These difficulties will have been present from childhood, and will continue throughout the person’s life.
People with learning disabilities can live happy, fulfilled lives and have many strengths which should be recognised and valued.
What is not a learning disability?
Learning disability is often confused with learning difficulties like:
- dyslexia
- dyscalculia
- dysgraphia
These relate to specific areas of difficulty in processing certain types of information, without the broader difficulties in understanding and day to day functioning which characterise a learning disability.
A person with a learning difficulty may need extra support in school. However, once they develop skills to manage their condition, most will develop the skills to live independently, get a job and build relationships.
People with learning disabilities can also have other mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. However, having a neurodevelopmental condition such as ASD or ADHD does not mean that person has a learning disability. Most people with these diagnoses do not have learning disabilities.
Learning disability or intellectual disability
The term intellectual disability is also often used, and means the same as learning disability. Both terms are used in Scotland, and it is recognised that different people have different preferences. It’s important to check with individuals how they like to describe themselves.