Let’s get a few things on the table right up front. There is no shame in having a learning disability (LD). Learning disabilities are not the result of laziness or inadequate instruction. They are not the same as hearing or vision impairments and are not a mild form of intellectual disability (formerly known as mental retardation). Learning disabilities do not go away and are not the same as learning "differences." And learning "preferences" are a universal phenomenon — not unique to any one group of individuals — and do not contribute meaningfully to the issue of LD.
What’s wrong with the word "differences"?
Absolutely nothing. In fact, differences are cool! And everyone has them:
Skin color, religious practice, the foods we like to eat
Athletic choices and skills (e.g., bat grip, bowling wind up, golf swing, swimming stroke)
Clothing styles and choices, the colors we prefer, our tastes in music, movies, and art
And in everyday language, the word "differences" sounds better than "disability":
It gives the impression that something is not permanent, and that it might even go away.
It doesn’t carry the same emotional charge, isn’t embarrassing, doesn’t hurt a person’s ego, and doesn’t chip away at a person’s sense of self-worth.
It is less "intrinsic" (inside the person) and more about external (outside) influences.
It is less confusing to others about why a person might struggle to do certain things.
It doesn’t automatically suggest that a person will need help or that they might not be able to meet the same expectations for performance as others.
And how about the word "preferences:"
Everyone has them; these are things that we can control and change if we choose to do so.
Preferences almost always change over time – as a result of maturity, experience, and practice.
A "disability" by any other name…
Learning disabilities are more than just differences and preferences. A person with dyslexia would prefer that that letters and sounds of the English language would make perfect sense to them and that their brains would (as it does for those without LD) make rapid, accurate, and automatic adjustments when they are faced with tasks that demand these types of information processing. Individuals with math disabilities would much rather not have to resort to finger counting or using a calculator when solving advanced algebra problems, and those with disorders of written expressions would prefer not to be different in ways that render their handwriting illegible, fill their essays (or memos, letters and emails) with poor grammar and misspellings and cause them to work at a painfully slow pace.
Learning disabilities (LDs) are real. They affect the brain's ability to receive, process, store, respond to, and communicate information. LDs are actually a group of disorders, not a single disorder.
Learning disabilities are not the same as intellectual disabilities (formerly k... More >
NCLD, with the State of Learning Disabilities, has published a critical report that will further the debate over how to strengthen the programs and policies we have in place to serve and protect students and adults with learning disabilities.
- Thomas H. Kean, NCLD Board Member and f... More >
What Are Learning Disabilities?
Learning disabilities (LD) are a group of varying disorders that have a negative impact on learning. They may affect one’s ability to speak, listen, think, read, write, spell or compute. The most prevalent LD is in the area of reading, known as d... More >
Truth be told, learning disabilities (LD) are not easily explained. While they are "specific" to any number of areas of learning (such as reading, math, and writing) they are also often overlapping or co-occurring, meaning that individuals with LD can have significant challenges in m... More >
Even though some three million school-age children are classified as having specific learning disabilities (LD), this category of special need is often widely misunderstood. Surveys of both parents and educators confirm that many people mistakenly link LD with mental retardation and ... More >
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Let’s get a few things on the table right up front. There is no shame in having a learning disability (LD). Learning disabilities are not the result of laziness or inadequate instruction. They are not the same as hearing or vision impairments and are not a mild form of intellectual disability (formerly known as mental retardation). Learning disabilities do not go away and are not the same as learning "differences." And learning "preferences" are a universal phenomenon — not unique to any one group of individuals — and do not contribute meaningfully to the issue of LD. 
