SLDs and how to talk about them

In this episode, Michael and Bill delve into what Specific Learning Difficulties are and the advantages vs the disadvantages of using terms like learning difference, disability or disorder to describe them.

So what do we call it when a person can’t learn to do something like reading, writing or maths as easily as what is considered normal? 

It’s a touchy subject and to be honest, it probably depends on the context you’re in when talking about it and whom you're talking to. Sometimes our context is trying to get funding schools to better support kids at school, sometimes it’s raising awareness in the community about learning problems and the long term impact they have on students. In these contexts, we want to talk in a way that underlines the functional severity of these difficulties and the lasting impact they have on young people (especially if not dealt with and properly resourced). So, in those contexts, we might use terms like disability or disorder. Then there’s the toughest context – a child who needs their difficulty explained to them, carefully,  in a way that doesn’t talk down to them or minimise the problems they experience, but at the same time doesn’t crush their soul. In this context, we may tread too lightly and talk about brains working differently and put too little attention on the very real hardships the child experiences every day at school.

It’s tough and it deserves exploring because regardless of the context there’s just so much at stake. So let’s go there!