This article is about the feelings of powerlessness that professionals feel to cure learning disability and to answer questions such as "why do I have a learning disability?". We describe how Emma showed us through role play what it was like to have learning difficulties. This article is interesting to people with learning disabilities because they can see how professionals struggle to understand what it is really like to have learning difficulties. The theme of powerlessness is relevant to learning disability because learning disability happens to people who do not choose and do not want to be learning disabled. Additionally, although there are many ways in which professionals can make the experience of living with a learning disability easier, we are powerless to cure learning disability, or answer the question asked by one of our clients (Emma) "why me? (and not you)".