Wednesday, 18 June 2025

All Safety Matters – But So Do Strengths

 


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There is no right or wrong way to think about safety – it is important for everyone.

But sometimes, when a person has a disability or condition,
people focus too much on what the person can’t do or how their condition makes things harder or less safe.

This can be helpful, but it’s not the full picture.

People with disabilities and conditions have just as many strengths as they do challenges.

So, it’s important to also look at what they can do, not just what they struggle with.

We must support safety and see the person’s abilities and talents, too.


Everyone Deserves Respect and Support

🧠 No one chooses to be born.
No one chooses to have a disability, condition, or mental illness.

🧍‍♀️People with disabilities or health problems are not lazy, not thick, and not useless.

They are people, just like anyone else.

Their conditions might slow them down or make learning harder —
but they can learn, work, and succeed with the right support.

💡 People just need:

Understanding

Encouragement

Empowerment

Kindness

💬 Saying unkind things or putting someone down only hurts their confidence and makes life harder.

🚫 The people are not the problem —
🔧 The system needs to change to help everyone belong and succeed.

 

chapter 2: what are special needs and learning disabilities?

 

Understanding Learning Disabilities

 

Learning disabilities affect people in different ways.

 

 

Understanding Learning Disabilities, Learning Difficulties, Special Needs, and Disabilities

Before we look at common types of learning disabilities, it’s important to understand the terms often used when discussing education, support, and individual needs. Words like learning difficulties, special needs, disability, and learning disability are often confused or used in different ways. This section will help you understand what each one means and how they relate to each other.

 Understanding Learning Disabilities

 

Learning disabilities affect people in different ways.

 

 

Understanding Learning Disabilities, Learning Difficulties, Special Needs, and Disabilities


 

·                     : Understanding Learning Disabilities
What learning disabilities are, how they affect people differently, and breaking down some common myths.

 

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common myths and facts about learning disabilities

Myth 1:
people with learning disabilities are not intelligent.
fact:
learning disabilities have nothing to do with intelligence. many people with LD are highly intelligent and creative. Albert Einstein, for example, had a learning difference.


Myth 2:
learning disabilities can be outgrown.
fact:
learning disabilities are lifelong. with the right support and strategies, people can succeed in school, work, and life—but they don’t "grow out of" the condition.


Myth 3:
lds are caused by laziness or lack of effort.
fact:
 People with LD are neurological and not related to a person’s motivation. people with LD often work much harder than others to achieve the same results.


myth 4:
all learning disabilities are the same.
fact:
There are many types of learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia (trouble reading), Dyscalculia (trouble with numbers), and Dysgraphia (trouble writing). Each person experiences things differently. How, who learns what, interests etc varies.


Myth 5:
poor teaching or parenting causes learning disabilities.
fact:
lds are not caused by bad parenting or poor teaching. they are brain-based differences that often run in families.


myth 6:
people with LD can't succeed in life.
fact:
many people with LD can lead successful lives, different people in different ways. with the right help, they can go to university, get jobs, and even become leaders, artists, scientists, or business owners.


 

Myth 7:

Using tools like audiobooks or computers is cheating.

Fact:

These tools are not cheating – they are helpful supports.

Some people with learning disabilities (LD) find it hard to read, write, or remember things.
Tools like audiobooks, screen readers, speech-to-text, or using a computer help them learn in a way that works for them.

This is called “reasonable adjustment” – it helps people show what they know.

The internet and technology (IT) can make learning easier and fairer for people with LD and other conditions.
Everyone’s needs are different, and there are many tools that can help in different ways.

 

 

Having Coped With Discrimination

➡️ Already written — excellent reflections on language, stigma, and judgment.

Understanding Discrimination in Disability



What Is Discrimination in Disability, difficulties, and special needs?

Discrimination in disability means:

A person is treated unfairly or excluded because of their disability.

This can happen at school, work, home, or in the community.

🔹 Examples of disability discrimination:

Not allowing a child with autism to go on a school trip.

Refusing to hire someone in a wheelchair, even if they can do the job.

Not providing extra help or adjustments for someone with a learning disability.

🧩 Why it’s harmful:

It stops disabled people from getting equal chances in life.

It can lead to poverty, stress, and feeling left out.

It tells people they are “less than” others, which is wrong and unfair.


❤️ How Can We Help?

To fight mental health stigma and disability discrimination, we can:

Learn and talk openly about mental health and disability
Be kind and respect people’s differences
Stand up if we see bullying or unfair treatment
Use fair words, not rude or negative labels
Support changes in schools, workplaces, and laws to make things equal for everyone

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All Safety Matters – But So Do Strengths

  There is no right or wrong way to think about safety – it is important for everyone. But sometimes, when a person has a disability or ...