I was just speaking this evening to the chapter head for our Learning Disabilities Association here in Alberta, and she encountered this very situation when they brought in a guest speaker from the UK. She tells me that dyslexia is used in the UK as it is in the US, as a blanket term rather than a specific term for one kind of learning disability. The terms "learning disability" and "learning difficulty" can be variously used to describe what we think of as learning disability - a person with average/above average intelligence or beyond who is not functioning at an academic level appropriate for that level of intelligence. IE, IQ 90-100+. She also tells me that both the terms "learning disability" and "learning difficulty" are also used in the UK in the way we might use the term "developmental disorder" or the old words, mentally retarded. Clear as mud, huh? Sigh. We both concluded there is lot of work to do in this field to address these variations in terminology. And I would advise some caution - where did that term come from? And who knows what Leeds social services means by that term and if they're using it correctly. This mother says she has never been appropriately assessed. -- Jodine Chase *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome