A learning disability affects the way someone learns, communicates or does some everyday things. Someone has a learning disability all through their life.
There are many different types of learning disability. They can be mild, moderate or severe.
Some people with a mild learning disability do not need a lot of support in their lives. But other people may need support with all sorts of things, like getting dressed, going shopping, or filling out forms.
Some people with a learning disability also have a physical
disability. This can mean they need a lot of support 24 hours a day. This is known as profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD).
A learning disability does not stop someone from learning
and achieving a lot in life, if they get the right support.
A learning disability can affect someone's life a lot. This is
partly because people with a learning disability may find it
harder to understand things than other people.
But it is also because other people often do not understand
what it means for someone to have a learning disability. As a result people with a learning disability often do not get treated properly.
Here are some important facts about learning disability:
* 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.
* 200 babies are born with a learning disability every week.
* 9 out of 10 people with a learning disability get bullied.
* There are more than 29,000 people with a severe or
profound learning disability who live at home with
carers aged over 70.
