Talking About Learning
Disability
What is a Learning Disability?
Lesson 2
What is a Learning Disability?
Learning Intentions for Lesson 2:
To describe what a learning disability is
To discuss the diversity of learning disabilities
In the last lesson some of the young
people we met had a learning disability
such as actor Tommy Jessop, swimmer
Daniel Pepper, and Susan who wanted to
live independently.
In the next two lessons we are going to
find out more about the lives of people
with learning disabilities.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO
VIEW AND LISTEN
Before we do so let’s hear from a mum
talking about her initial reaction on
hearing her child has Down’s syndrome
and how her attitude changed.
ELLIS
Activity 1
Think, Pair, Share
What do you think a learning disability is?
What is a Learning Disability?
A learning disability is a lifelong condition which begins
in childhood and affects how a person develops as he
or she grows up into adulthood.
People with learning disabilities need help to:
• understand information
• learn new skills
• cope independently
What Causes Learning Disability?
There are a number of causes of a learning disability,
including:
•
•
•
•
Genetic conditions (e.g. Down’s syndrome)
Problems during pregnancy (e.g. Foetal alcohol syndrome)
Problems during childbirth (e.g. lack of oxygen)
Illness or injury (e.g. meningitis or head injury)
… but most of all there is no known cause
Activity 2
Let’s hear from
some people with
learning disabilities
and their families
talking a little about
their lives and the
support they need.
This is Jack. He has
multiple learning
disabilities. His sister Karly
is going to tell us a little
about what this means.
This is Ellis. He is
going to tell us about
his weekend, and his
mum is going to tell
us about ‘getting him
off’ to school.
CLICK ON THE IMAGES
TO VIEW AND LISTEN
Support for People with Learning Disabilities
Just like our diverse society, people with learning disabilities
are a very mixed group of people who need different levels
of support, such as:
•
•
•
•
occasional or short-term support
perhaps only during periods of change or crisis
regular long-term support, maybe every day
constant and highly intensive support including personal care if they
have complex or other needs
But they have the same everyday needs as everyone else – a place to
live, security, relationships and recreation and work opportunities
Learning Disability is not:
• a specific learning difficulty. Learning
difficulties, e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia are not
learning disabilities because they do not affect
general cognitive skills like learning and
remembering.
• a mental health problem – mental health
problems can affect anyone at any time,
including people with a learning disability.
• People with certain specific genetic conditions
have a learning disability, for example, people
with Down’s syndrome have a learning
disability. And some people with other
developmental conditions, for example,
autism, also have a learning disability. But
autism itself is not a learning disability – for
not all people with autism have a learning
disability.
Activity 3
Individual note-taking task
What does it mean to have a ‘Learning
Disability’?
CLICK ON THE IMAGE
TO VIEW AND LISTEN
Write down what the people in the film have to say
about learning disability.
Share your ideas with a partner.
Success Criteria for Lessons 2
I am developing:
knowledge and understanding about what a learning
disability is.
knowledge and understanding of the diversity of
learning disabilities.