What Is a Learning Disability?

A learning disability affects the way a person understands information and how they communicate. This means they can have difficulty:

  • understanding new or complex information
  • learning new skills
  • coping independently

Around 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability. It’s thought up to 350,000 people have a severe learning disability.

Some conditions are associated with having a learning disability because people with these conditions are more likely to have one. For example, everyone with down syndrome has some kind of learning disability, and so do many people with cerebral palsy. People with autism may also have learning disabilities, and around 30% of people with epilepsy have a learning disability.

Some adults with a learning disability are able to live independently, while others need help with everyday tasks, such as washing and dressing, for their whole lives. It depends on the person’s abilities and the level of care and support they receive*.

Here at Inspire, we take an educational approach to care. We aim to enable adults with learning disabilities to improve their confidence, independence and practical skills through our learning programmes, and to have a great time doing it too! Our members are able to enjoy their favourite activities while also striving to reach their full potential.

 

*All information sourced from the NHS.