Is it suitable to use the phrase 'Learning Disability?' | The Advocacy Fellows #10

The Advocacy Fellows discuss the use of the language 'learning disability' and whether it is a positive or negative phrase.

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Episode Transcript

(00:07):
We are
The Advocacy Fellows voicing for
and empowering young adults with learning
disabilities.
Hello and thanks for joining us.

(00:28):
And welcome once again to another editionof The Advocacy Fellows.
This time we are looking at the termlearning disability
and whether it's still an acceptable termfor 2024.
If not, what could the alternative be?
According to Mencap, a learningdisability has to do with the way
someone's brain works.
It's a way to make things harderto learn, understand things,

(00:50):
make friends, manage money,and undertaking tasks.
A learning disability is not the sameas a learning difficulty.
Examples of learningdifficulties are dyslexia and dyscalculia.
The word disability means a physicalor mental condition
that makes it difficult for somebody to dothings.

(01:10):
Is the word disabledstill a term we want to use?
We no longer have disabled toilets,as the term accessible
toilets is a much more acceptable term.
Should we not consider a more acceptableterm when it comes to talking
about people?
So now it's
time to see what the Advocacy Fellowsthink.
the term learning disability is okay

(01:32):
because I don't want everything to change.
Or I think that the term learningdisability is, not okay, because, it
probably implies that, that peopleare incapable of doing certain things.
And I just feelthat the term special needs
is, is ais a lot more, appropriate and,

(01:54):
and a lot more encouraging comparedto, learning disability.
I think a disability is a good wordbecause it,
because some people sayI have a disability
and i don’t even know about it.
When it comes to this term.
I'm kind of on the fence.

(02:14):
So some people would seelearning disability as depending
on how they view it,it could be a bad thing
and some people would use itto be a bad thing.
But then of on the other side, it'sthe most commonly used one
and depending on the person's way,they view it.
If it is a bad thing or if it's not,it really depends on the person.

(02:35):
Some people have special
lanyards or support stuffed animalsthat says the name
and what they have and what to do.
I like the lanyard it’s a great idea.
It tells you who you areand knows your disability.
If you don't have it,make sure you bring it from home.

(02:57):
A lanyard is a good idea because it givesan idea of what that person has.
And but there's also the it'sthe thing is the government,
they're trying to not help disabled peoplethat much,
which is not really the best wayto deal with things.
And they really need to learnthat we're all human,
so we all should be treated the same. Wow.

(03:19):
I now have a very interesting podcastwith some very interesting ideas.
Let us know what you thinkby commenting below on the podcast.
A huge thank you
to Nick at KMF radiofor allowing us to use the studio again,
and a big thank you to the AdvocacyFellows for giving up their time
today, and a hugethank you to you for listening.
We hope you guys enjoyed the podcastat KMF Radio.

(03:41):
If you did, don’t forget to smasha big thumbs up, hit the big red subscribe
button down below and we'll see younext time for loads more podcasts.
Until then, it's goodbye from Nickand the team.
So see you next time. Till then. Goodbye.
This video was produced by Discover
Voices, part of Disability,Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

(04:05):
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