Learning DIFFERENCE, not disability

This past Friday, I was on a panel of students who were talking to parents of children with learning differences. It got me thinking about a lot of things, but mainly, when did the whole idea of a learning 'disability' come into play? Surely this is a relatively new phenomenon, and as a student diagnosed with visual/spatial disability, this topic is near and dear to my heart. However, my rather cynical cousin brought up a good point: if it is politically incorrect to say learning 'disability', and more socially acceptable to say learning 'difference', don't all people have a learning difference? After all, we all learn differently, correct?

This was a difficult concept to argue, because I do agree with my cousin; people do all learn differently. So what is it that merits extended time for students or taking an exam in a testing center? As an advocate for those with learning differences, I feel it is important to be able to explain why it is only CERTAIN individuals who have these accommodations.