Red Disability - learning disability fact file

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Learning Disabilities

Learning disability is quite a wide subject, but all types of learning disabilities have similar effects on those who have a learning disability (not least, the prejudice we have to endure from people who mistakenly think they are clever enough to look down on us). Types of learning disability include:

difficulties in learning academic subjects (eg Downs Syndrome)
spelling or number / letter ordering disabilities, notably dyslexia
slowed or stunted emotional growth, leading to a lower mental age
disabilities related to communication or relating to people, such as autism
difficulties in learning tasks requiring co-ordination, notably ataxia

How are learning-disabled people handicapped by Capitalism ?

Discrimination in employment against people with learning disabilities is not only rife, it is considered "legitimate" as many employers ask for academic qualifications which have little relevence to the jobs done
Documentation such as official forms, equipment manuals, etc are often written in language which is difficult to understand the meaning of
Many items now need you to remember or read a number to use them, such as bank cards or credit cards (PIN numbers), computer software (ID codes or serial numbers)
Strings of numbers such as telephone numbers are getting increasingly long and difficult to remember, due to changes in the telephone industry (due largely to competition between different private companies)
People with a low mental age are adversely affected by the (often artificial) division between kids' and adults' entertainment and leisure. In a few cases this is purely cost / profit related (eg the age or weight limits on bouncy-castles or swimming pool inflatables), but in most cases it is - ironically - because of capitalist society's interest in the oppression of kids. In recent years, the moral panic about paedophiles has aggravated the tendency to have separate facilities for kids and adults.
As manufacturing industries have been decimated over the past few decades, a large number of jobs are now in service industries (such as shops, restaurants and marketing) which require communication with customers - so people with disabilities such as autism are in an increasingly difficult position when seeking employment

How can helping people with learning disabilities also help us all ?

Printing forms and manuals in accessible language could help us all understand how to use equipment more easily, and save us a lot of time and effort
The obsession with academic qualifications has led to Britain's kids being the most tested in Europe, especially with the advent of SATs tests and school league tables. A move away from this obsession with exam results would not just reduce the stress level on kids, it would also free school time for creative subjects.
Replacing PIN numbers on bank cards with something like finger-print scanning would increase security, and make muggings less likely.
Removing the divisions between kids' and adults' entertainment would allow younger kids to enjoy themselves with their older brothers and sisters, or even with their parents.
The loss of jobs in manufacturing industries has decimated many villages, and any action to stop and reverse this decline would be welcome. This is especially the case when you realize that many of the jobs created in the service sector are low paid and horribly exploitative, such as working in fast food restaurants. A few of the jobs which require the greatest ability to communicate with the public, such as salespeople, serve no useful purpose to society and are considered an annoyance by many.

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