Laura Palmer
Sam Price
Unit 9- Task 1 Resub
LO1- Know the types and causes of learning disabilities
P1- Define the term learning disabilities
P2- Describe types of learning disabilities and their causes
1
, People with learning disabilities make up a part of the community to whom we may provide
care and support or live alongside. It is important that we are aware of the types of causes of
learning disabilities. In this assignment I am going to define the term learning disabilities. I
will also describe types of learning disabilities and their causes.
P1- Define the term learning disabilities
Mencap states that “a learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty in
everyday activities- for example household tasks, socialising or managing money- which
affects someone for their whole life.” (What is a learning disability?, n.d.) In my opinion, this
is an accurate definition of what someone with a learning disability experiences in their daily
life.
“The World Health Organisation defines learning disability as a state of arrested or
incomplete development of the mind.” (Mental Health Access Pack, n.d.) The World Health
Organisation states that a learning disability is identified by an impairment of skills in a
variety of developmental areas such as the ability to adapt to the demands of daily life. In my
opinion, the definition that is used is degrading to individuals with learning disabilities.
"A learning disability is defined as a significant intellectual impairment with difficulties in
meeting their own needs and began before the age of 18." (Royal college of Nursing, n.d) In
my opinion, this is not the best definition of a learning disability, as an individual may have
been struggling with learning before they were 18 years old, but it might not have been
recognised and diagnosed by professionals until after the person is 18.
In my opinion, a learning disability is a disability that can make it harder for people to grasp
onto concepts that they need to learn. For example, having a learning disability can make it
harder for someone to learn how to drive. Also, even if an individual has the same learning
disability, they can be affected by it in different ways. No two people with the same learning
disability will be impacted in the same way as another person with the same learning
disability as them.
In general, a learning disability is a condition that affects learning and intelligence across all
areas of life, whereas a learning difficulty is a condition which creates an obstacle to a
specific form of learning but does not affect the overall IQ of an individual. A learning
disability is a disability that affects how someone’s neurodevelopment, how they achieve in
education, and daily living skills in order to live independently and be able to function.
There is a model of care for learning disabilities. In July 2015, government organisations
came together to create a new framework designed to improve care of people with learning
disabilities. It focused less on hospital support and more on community services. The aims of
the model were to provide more proactive, preventative care, with better identification of
people at risk. They also aimed to empower individuals with learning disabilities. For
example, there was an expansion of personal budgets and independent advocacy. The
model of care for learning disabilities also ensure that support was offered for the families to
care for their children at home. The model of care also allowed for individuals to have a
greater choice of services and secure housing, in order to meet their individual needs. It also
ensured access to services that enable people with learning disabilities and, or autism to live
fulfilling lives. The model of care for learning disabilities also ensures that those individuals
with learning disabilities are able to access all mainstream healthcare services, including
mental health services. The model also ensures that specialist multi-disciplinary support is
available in the community, and that it is also available if they need an intense amount of
support, if it means that the individual can avoid being admitted if they are cared for in this
way. The model of care also ensures that services are aimed at keeping people out of the
2
Sam Price
Unit 9- Task 1 Resub
LO1- Know the types and causes of learning disabilities
P1- Define the term learning disabilities
P2- Describe types of learning disabilities and their causes
1
, People with learning disabilities make up a part of the community to whom we may provide
care and support or live alongside. It is important that we are aware of the types of causes of
learning disabilities. In this assignment I am going to define the term learning disabilities. I
will also describe types of learning disabilities and their causes.
P1- Define the term learning disabilities
Mencap states that “a learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty in
everyday activities- for example household tasks, socialising or managing money- which
affects someone for their whole life.” (What is a learning disability?, n.d.) In my opinion, this
is an accurate definition of what someone with a learning disability experiences in their daily
life.
“The World Health Organisation defines learning disability as a state of arrested or
incomplete development of the mind.” (Mental Health Access Pack, n.d.) The World Health
Organisation states that a learning disability is identified by an impairment of skills in a
variety of developmental areas such as the ability to adapt to the demands of daily life. In my
opinion, the definition that is used is degrading to individuals with learning disabilities.
"A learning disability is defined as a significant intellectual impairment with difficulties in
meeting their own needs and began before the age of 18." (Royal college of Nursing, n.d) In
my opinion, this is not the best definition of a learning disability, as an individual may have
been struggling with learning before they were 18 years old, but it might not have been
recognised and diagnosed by professionals until after the person is 18.
In my opinion, a learning disability is a disability that can make it harder for people to grasp
onto concepts that they need to learn. For example, having a learning disability can make it
harder for someone to learn how to drive. Also, even if an individual has the same learning
disability, they can be affected by it in different ways. No two people with the same learning
disability will be impacted in the same way as another person with the same learning
disability as them.
In general, a learning disability is a condition that affects learning and intelligence across all
areas of life, whereas a learning difficulty is a condition which creates an obstacle to a
specific form of learning but does not affect the overall IQ of an individual. A learning
disability is a disability that affects how someone’s neurodevelopment, how they achieve in
education, and daily living skills in order to live independently and be able to function.
There is a model of care for learning disabilities. In July 2015, government organisations
came together to create a new framework designed to improve care of people with learning
disabilities. It focused less on hospital support and more on community services. The aims of
the model were to provide more proactive, preventative care, with better identification of
people at risk. They also aimed to empower individuals with learning disabilities. For
example, there was an expansion of personal budgets and independent advocacy. The
model of care for learning disabilities also ensure that support was offered for the families to
care for their children at home. The model of care also allowed for individuals to have a
greater choice of services and secure housing, in order to meet their individual needs. It also
ensured access to services that enable people with learning disabilities and, or autism to live
fulfilling lives. The model of care for learning disabilities also ensures that those individuals
with learning disabilities are able to access all mainstream healthcare services, including
mental health services. The model also ensures that specialist multi-disciplinary support is
available in the community, and that it is also available if they need an intense amount of
support, if it means that the individual can avoid being admitted if they are cared for in this
way. The model of care also ensures that services are aimed at keeping people out of the
2
