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In UK, the term "Learning Disabled" refers to people with low intelligence/cognitive abilities, and reflects the fact that their ability to learn is impaired. The old-fashioned term was "Mentally Handicapped". The more general term "Learning Difficulties" or "Specific Learning Difficulties" refers to a conditions such as dyslexia, found in persons of average intelligence or above. However, in USA and Canada, "Learning Disabled" means things like dyslexia and the term is interchangeable with the term "Specific Learning Disabilities" (used in a similar way in UK). People with low intelligence/cognitive abilities are described as "Mentally Retarded" (MR), referring to the fact that their learning ability is slowed. Since "mentally retarded" is considered offensive in UK, and "Learning disabled" is confusing due to the different meanings in UK and USA, we have used the term "Intellectually Impaired" in this FAQ. This is possibly PC nonsense, but we had to have some kind of term so that we all knew what we were talking about. No term used is intended to be disrespectful to persons with that label. |
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