About Learning Disability

Learning disability can affect anyone and cannot be cured. Learning disability used to be known as mental handicap. There are a wide range of diagnosed conditions, including Down’s syndrome.

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops. There are many different types of learning disability and most develop before a baby is born, during birth or because of a serious illness in early childhood.

Learning disability is not mental illness or dyslexia.

People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities may need full-time help with every aspect of their lives – including feeding, washing, dressing and toileting.

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Like all of us, they are individuals who want different things in life and need different levels of support.