ABSTRACT
We, as teachers, sometimes think negatively of a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia and autism. It is important for D&T teachers to recognise that some learning difficulties contribute to pupils’ D&T capability in quite remarkable ways. Ofsted often reports that pupils with SEND make more progress in D&T than in any other subject. The hands-on, creative problem-solving and openended, 3D nature of the topics means that pupils excel in this subject where they might struggle in others. Pupils who are both gifted and learning-disabled (sometimes referred to as ‘dual exceptionality’) can exhibit remarkable talents and strengths in some areas of D&T, but may also demonstrate significant weaknesses in other areas of the subject.
