What Is a Disability? What Is a Learning Disability?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter presents ideas, concepts, and definitions that form the foundation for evaluation of adults with learning disabilities and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). First, the distinction between a learning disability as a neuropsychological concept and a learning disability as a condition that warrants accommodation from a legal standpoint is introduced. This includes the earliest known definition of a learning disability, which drove service provision and research starting in the 1970s, and the broad definition of a disability under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Next, the chapter focuses on definitions of learning disabilities that have been used for children, a discussion of their limitations, a definition that is better for adults, and the author’s proposed definition for adults. The population that fits into the category “adults with learning disabilities or ADHD,” which is the subject of this book, is defined. The chapter concludes with an outline of the types of learning disabilities that are covered in this book. The typology is largely based on research conducted with children.