LEARNING DISABILITIES Learning disabilities are disorders
that affect the ability to understand
What are learning disabilities and how
or use spoken or written language,
are they defined?
do mathematical calculations,
In the broadest sense, students coordinate movements, or direct
with learning disabilities (LD) have attention.
average or above-average Although learning disabilities occur
intelligence but have unexpected in very young children, the
underachievement—academic disorders are usually not
performance significantly below recognized until the child reaches
what would be predicted from their school age.
talents and potential.
Specific Learning Disorder
Definitions of Learning Difficulties learning and using academic
Disabilities skills, as indicated by the presence of at
least one of the following symptoms that
Specific Learning Disability
have persisted for at least the last 6
Specific Learning Disability means months, despite the provision of
a disorder in one or more of the interventions that target those
basic psychological processes difficulties:
involved in understanding or in
using language, spoken or written,
that may manifest itself in an 1. Inaccurate or slow and effortful
imperfect ability to listen, think, word reading
speak, read, write, spell, or do 2. Difficulty understanding the
mathematical calculations. meaning of what is read
This includes conditions such as 3. Difficulties with spelling.
perceptual disabilities, brain injury, 4. Difficulties with written expression.
minimal brain dysfunction, 5. Difficulties mastering number
dyslexia, and developmental sense, number facts, or calculation.
aphasia. 6. Difficulties with mathematical
The term does not include learning reasoning.
problems that are primarily the
result of visual, hearing, or motor
disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Selected Types of Learning
emotional disturbance, or
environmental, cultural, or
Disabilities
economic disadvantages. Dyslexia
- A learning disability that makes
Learning Disabilities it difficult to read and process
language. It is caused by
differences in the parts of the Challenges and Solutions in
brain that process language.
Learning Disabilities
Dysgraphia
- A learning disability that makes
Challenge: Cognitive Processing Delays
it difficult to write. It can
impact someone’s ability to Solution: Integrate visual aids such as
organize their thoughts, form charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, and
grammatically correct infographics to help students process and
sentences, and use writing understand information more clearly.
conventions.
Dyscalculia
Challenge: Challenges in Communication
- A learning disability that makes
Solution: Use speech and language
it hard to understand and use
therapy—A speech therapist can work
numbers and math. It’s also
with students to improve articulation,
known as “number dyslexia” or
fluency, vocabulary, and grammar, as
“math learning disorder.”
well as enhance comprehension and
expressive language.
How are learning disabilities identified
- A student can qualify for
services under the Individuals
Challenge: Difficulty Understanding
with Disabilities Education Act
Social Cues
(IDEA) category of specific
learning disability in two ways. Solution: Provide training programs that
teach students how to interpret and
respond to social cues. These programs
Types of Learning Disabilities can include activities focused on
1. Reading disabilities – Have understanding facial expressions, body
problems processing written language, and turn-taking.
language.
2. Writing disabilities – Have problems
producing written language. Challenge: Difficulty with Attention and
3. Mathematics disabilities – Have Focus
problems understanding Solution: Provide visual reminders (e.g.,
mathematics concepts (basic charts, schedules, visual timers) and
number sense, one-to-one auditory cues (e.g., verbal prompts,
correspondence). sound signals) to help students stay on
task and focus during activities.
Examples of Frequently Used Transition to College for
Accommodations for Students with
Learning Disabilities
Students with Learning
Disabilities
- Advance organizers
- Note takers
- Digital pen Learn and understand the differences
- Oral response between supports and services
guaranteed through IDEA and those
Early Intervention for Learning
available in college.
Disabilities
Develop and practice self-regulation
- The early signs of learning strategies, study skills, and
disabilities are often apparent organizational and time management
by age three. practices.
- Students who fail to acquire
the core skills of early reading
Famous Individuals with
during the preschool years Learning Disabilities
often become poor readers for
life.
Albert Einstein – Struggled with language
delays but became a groundbreaking
- High-quality instruction, physicist.
frequent progress monitoring, Thomas Edison – Had dyslexia but
and additional explicit revolutionized technology and invention.
instruction when the student
signals problems learning Whoopi Goldberg – Overcame dyslexia to
mathematics skills and become an award-winning actress and
concepts can prevent years of comedian.
school failure. Steven Spielberg – Diagnosed with
dyslexia as an adult, yet became a
legendary filmmaker.
Effective Instruction for Students with
Learning Disabilities
Future Perspectives in Learning
Disabilities
1. Accommodations such as extended
time.
2. The principles of Universal Design Prevention: Addressing prenatal risk
for Learning (UDL). factors such as maternal illness, drug or
3. Require explicit instruction. alcohol use, and malnutrition.
Technology: New brain mapping
technologies are identifying differences
in brain functions of individuals with and
without learning disabilities.
Assistive Technology Checklist: Factors to
consider when selecting appropriate
assistive technology for students with
learning disabilities.
