What is a learning disability?

You might have been shown this resource because:

• you have been for learning disability assessment
• you are going for a learning disability assessment
• you have been told you have a learning disability by a psychologist

You might be okay reading this resource on your own. You might want someone to read it with you.

What is a learning disability?

• It might take you longer to learn than others.
• You might need some support to learn everyday tasks.
• People have learning disabilities when they are born and for all their life.

A learning disability is not:

• ADHD
• Autism
• a mental health condition
• a physical illness

It is possible to have any of these and a learning disability.

How do I know if I have a learning disability?

To find out if you have a learning disability, you will do some puzzles with a Psychologist. Your parents will also give lots of information about your skills.

If you are told that you have a learning disability

• You are still you. You do not change at all.
• There is nothing wrong with you.
• You may feel angry, sad, worried or have other feelings. This is okay.
• You might feel happy to know why some things are hard.
• Talking to someone about what you think and how you feel may help.

What causes a learning disability?

• Most of the time, we do not know why someone has a learning disability.
• Sometimes it runs in a family, meaning other people in your family may have a learning disability too. Sometimes it comes from how you grew before you were born, or things that happened during your birth.
• Having a learning disability is not your fault or your parents’ or carers’ fault.

Living a full life

You can still do lots of things with a learning disability. You will still be able to be independent and make choices about your life by yourself such as where you live and what you do as an adult. You can still have friends and have interesting things to do in the day.

More support

• Having a learning disability may mean others do more to help you.
• You might get more help at school. Others might make things easier for you to understand.
• You can get more help when you are an adult.
• You can get learning disability annual health checks when you become 14 years old.