Learning Disability - definitions, origins, history

"The day-to-day lives of people with a learning disability and their families have always been much affected by the way they are perceived and treated by the communities they live in. The history of public and private attitudes over the last three centuries is one of intolerance and lack of understanding." (Mencap, UK)

A definition of the language of learning disability:

There is confusion regarding the use of the terminology used. This varies from country to country and also whether the perspective is medical, social or educational.

"Learning disability and learning difficulties are used in the US and sometimes elsewhere to denote educational problems of a specific nature, such as dyslexia. In Great Britain, the Department of Health adopted learning disability as the preferred alternative to mental handicap. However it has been argued that intellectual disability is a more accurate term. This is used by the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as in Australasia. However in the United Kingdom, moderate/severe learning difficulties is used as a legal term in the field of education." Prof. Roy Mc Conkey, (Chair of Learning Disability, University of Ulster)

Learning disability - history & origins of the term.

Learning disability was formerly known as mental handicap or mental retardation.

The foundation of the National Health Service in the UK in 1946 led to the development of a medical model of disability and the use of the term "mentally handicapped." Institutions became hospitals, with the emphasis on caring for their residents.

The 1959 Mental Health Act distinguished people with a 'mental illness' were from those described as having a 'mental handicap'

In response to continued reports about appalling conditions in the hospitals, In 1971, the Government published a paper, 'Better services for the Mentally Handicapped',. which laid the foundations for 'Care in the Community'

The concept of normalisation began to influence the delivery of care for people with a learning disability during the 1980s. Normalisation theory began to have an influence on service provision during the 1980s. It emphasises the unique value of the individual, their right to choice and opportunity, and the right to any extra support they need to fulfil their potential. There was a recognition that existing institutions were an obstacle to inclusion and community integration.

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Learning disabilities - what are they?

Learning Disabilities refers to a variety of disorders that affect the acquisition, retention, understanding, organization or use of verbal and/or non-verbal information.
Learning disabilities range in severity and invariably interfere with the acquisition and use of one or more of the following important skills:
oral language (e.g., listening, speaking, understanding)
reading (e.g., decoding, comprehension)
written language (e.g., spelling, written expression)
mathematics (e.g., computation, problem solving)

Learning Disability - a working definition

Learning disability can affect the way in which a person takes in, remembers, understands and expresses information.
People with learning disability are intelligent and have abilities to learn despite difficulties in processing information.
Living with a learning disability can have an ongoing impact on friendships, school, work, self-esteem and daily life.
People with learning disability can succeed when individualised self-management skills and strategies are developed and relevant accommodation is provided. (Australian Learning Disability Association

For success, persons with learning disabilities require specialized interventions in home, school, community and workplace settings, appropriate to their individual strengths and needs, including:
-specific skill instruction;
-the development of compensatory strategies;
-the development of self-advocacy skills;
-appropriate accommodation.
People with learning disabilities may also have difficulties with organizational skills, social perception and social interaction.

Links

Mencap