What is Learning Disability ?

 

A learning disability is a life-long disability which makes it harder for a person to understand the world around them. It can affect their ability to communicate and to learn new skills. Learning disability is not a mental illness, and the term does not cover difficulties associated with learning letters and numbers such as dyslexia.
Downs Syndrome and autism are both examples of learning disability, at CORLD we prefer to consider people as individuals rather than label them by their disability.

Although most people with a learning disability need ongoing support, this can vary greatly with each individual. People with severe learning disabilities will need support in most areas of their lives, whereas others are able to live independently and may only need support occasionally.

Until the 1980's, many people with learning disabilities lived in long stay hospitals where life was communal and the opportunity to make choices few and far between. Today, most people live in the community, in ordinary streets where each individual is supported according to their need.
People with learning disabilities have the same rights to choice, opportunity and respect as people without learning disability. Help us to make this a reality.