As with
other disabled persons, contact with people of all abilities
is important. Many people with learning disabilities facilitate
relationships easily as by nature they are not inhibited or
diffident, but rather inclined towards forming relationships.
Their learning disability must not however induce others to
speak to them in an infantile language, as they often understand
a lot more than people think and many have a particularly
good memory. One should not speak to a learning disabled adult
as if speaking to a child, even if he or she has a child's
level of intelligence.
In relationships
with people with learning disabilities one must consider that
sometimes they do not censor their feelings and thoughts as
much as everyone else.
Children
with learning disabilties are very sensitive to compliments
and encouragement, just as other children are, and they have
the best chance to develop their learning and their skills
in a loving environment. Often the relationship requires much
patience: sometimes what's being said needs repeating and
teachers must proceed at a different pace, making sure not
to ask too much at once and proceeding step by step, demonstrating
to them how to perform a new action. Supervision and encouragement
are particularly appreciated, as with any child: a word of
appreciation instills confidence and encourages them to make
progress.
