People with learning disabilities People with learning disabilities are the same as others - with just one difference: they learn more slowly. Each person with learning disabilities is unique, so no-one can say what 'they' are like. Some do however have specific conditions, such as Downs Syndrome. Most people with learning disabilities were born this way. Some are affected at birth, others later in life, as a result of vaccinations or road accidents, for example. Peoples' abilities and their needs for support vary widely. Some people with learning disabilities may be very dependent - needing help with many activities, such as eating, dressing, personal hygiene, moving, going out, choosing clothes, meeting friends, and so on. Others may be very independent, able to read, write and use money, live on their own, have intimate relationships, and manage with only a little support. Some people may be very able to do some things but not others. People with learning disabilities may also have physical and/or sensory disabilities - such as epilepsy, mental health problems and so on. Many people with learning disabilities live on low incomes, in poor housing and with few prospects of work. TERMINOLOGY There is much debate about whether to use terms such as: 'learning disability', 'learning difficulties' or 'mental handicap'. Until relatively recently, 'mental handicap' was the common term. In the past few years people known as 'mentally handicapped' have asked to be called 'people with learning difficulties'. The UK government has started to use the term 'learning disability'. All are labels, and none of these terms is acceptable to everybody. One group has asked to be called 'people who don't like being labelled'. LEGAL STATUS Because people with learning disabilities are more vulnerable than other people, they are affected by certain laws. There isn't one law or Act of Parliament which covers their situation, but they may be affected by laws concerning: education, voting rights, ownership of property, guardianship, control of personal finances, consent for sex and so on. In the United Kingdom, by 2003, specific legislation that affected people with learning disabilities included the: Disability Discrimination Act, Mental Health Act, Community Care Act, and National Health Services Act. There are also specific laws which affect children and young people, and people who live in institutions. Advocates are not expected to know everything about these laws. Sometimes advocates need to seek specialist advice from lawyers or agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux. PREVIOUS NEXT Leeds Advocacy Unit A4, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB Tel: (0 113) 244 0606 Fax: (0 113) 244 0178 E-mail: office@leedsadvocacy.org.uk A company limited by guarantee; registered in England and Wales, No: 2533285 A registered charity; No 1000375 Copyright © in all material on this site remains the property of Leeds Advocacy, unless otherwise shown, in line with international law.