What Learning Disability Means. A person with a learning disability will have a reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills, (impaired intelligence) and this in turn reduces the ability of the person to cope independently (impaired social functioning). This means limited functioning in the following areas: Self–care ▪ ability to manage basic daily functions unaided e.g. eating, feeding, washing Community Living Skills ▪ ability to make choices about and to make use of community facilities. Communication ▪ level of comprehension, thought process and expressive language/signing Social and emotional adjustment ▪ appropriateness of interactions and behaviours within given situations or contexts Home living skills ▪ ability to maintain a home e.g. cooking, cleaning, laundering etc. Academic Skills ▪ being able to appropriately apply knowledge Work / Leisure ▪ ability to function in a normal work/leisure environment Self Direction ▪ ability to see the need to undertake tasks and motivation to do so Risk ▪ ability to understand health and safety needs Any measure of limited functioning in the above areas is an indicator of learning disability only when it is not a consequence of accident or illness but is a person’s normal level of functioning at the time of assessment. There is a general acceptance that an IQ below the 70 range indicates a learning disability. However, the problem with conventional intelligence testing is that while below average scores suggest intellectual impairment, it cannot be relied upon to provide accurate indications of learning disabilities and social skills. Assessment of learning disability is concerned with how far social, physical and emotional development enhances or hinders an individual’s ability to participate on equal terms with others in society. For this reason a significantly low level of social functioning in any of the areas indicated will be an important factor.
