Learning difficulties or learning disability?
There is no agreed definition of either of these terms. Different organisations
and local authorities explain them in different ways.
This is how we interpret them.
Difficulty = obstacle
Disability = something that incapacitates
Learning difficulty
Any learning or emotional problem that affects, or substantially affects a person’s ability to learn, get along with others and follow convention.
Learning disability
A significant, lifelong condition that starts before adulthood, affects development and leads to help being required to:
• Understand information
• Learn skills
• Cope independently
