Why does People First New Zealand use the words learning disability instead of intellectual disability?
In 2004 the members of People First decided that they preferred the words “learning disability”. Members felt that it spoke more truthfully about their impairments. Members said “We can learn, it just takes some of us a bit longer”.
Many people ask People First about the words “learning disability” and why it is the term that we use.
Our organisation believes that we need to follow what our members have said. People First knows that other countries around the world use terms such as “Learning difficulties”. This gives us the courage to try and change the words that New Zealand society uses to talk about people with learning disability.
Here is our presentation: [download id=”1466″]