Learning DisabilitiesLearning Disabilities

ByByDanielle EppertDanielle EppertVanessa MadsenVanessa Madsen

Gina CarterGina Carter

www.ldac-taac.ca/Defined/defined_new-e.asp

The Learning Disabilities The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada suggests Association of Canada suggests that 1 in 10 Canadians have a that 1 in 10 Canadians have a learning disability.learning disability.

The chances of having a student with a learning The chances of having a student with a learning disability in your class is highly likely.disability in your class is highly likely.

What Are LD’s?

Adapted from The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, http://www.ldac-

taac.ca/Defined/defined_new-e.asp

DefinitionDefinition

A learning disability can be any disorder that affects a A learning disability can be any disorder that affects a person’s ability to gather, process, organize, understand person’s ability to gather, process, organize, understand and use information. These disorders may interfere with and use information. These disorders may interfere with one or more of the following:one or more of the following:

Oral languageOral language ReadingReading Written languageWritten language MathematicsMathematics

Leaning disabilities also may involve organizational skills, Leaning disabilities also may involve organizational skills, social perception, social interaction, and perspective social perception, social interaction, and perspective taking.taking.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Specific difficulties in one or more academic areas – Specific difficulties in one or more academic areas – most common in readingmost common in reading

Poor coordinationPoor coordination Short attention spanShort attention span HyperactivityHyperactivity ImpulsivityImpulsivity DistractibilityDistractibility Difficulty following directionsDifficulty following directions Difficulty organizing and interpreting informationDifficulty organizing and interpreting information

Characteristics ContinuedCharacteristics Continued

Problems with speech and hearingProblems with speech and hearing Disorders of memory and thinkingDisorders of memory and thinking DisorganizationDisorganization Difficulty with social interaction and social Difficulty with social interaction and social

perceptionperception Trouble making and keeping friendsTrouble making and keeping friends Poor self-conceptPoor self-concept Problems with perspective takingProblems with perspective taking

CausesCauses

GeneticsGenetics Tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use during pregnancyTobacco, alcohol, and other drug use during pregnancy Complications during pregnancyComplications during pregnancy Environmental toxinsEnvironmental toxins Mercury poisoningMercury poisoning Lead poisoningLead poisoning Poor nutritionPoor nutrition Maturational delayMaturational delay

TrendsTrends

Multiple Intelligence theory as presented by Multiple Intelligence theory as presented by Howard Gardner in the early 1980’sHoward Gardner in the early 1980’s

Appropriate Educational Programming Appropriate Educational Programming Regulation in ManitobaRegulation in Manitoba

Increase in the number of paraprofessionals in Increase in the number of paraprofessionals in the classroomthe classroom

Diagnosis of Learning DisabilitiesDiagnosis of Learning Disabilities

Developmental historyDevelopmental history Social reviewSocial review ObservationsObservations Cognitive assessmentCognitive assessment Communication assessmentCommunication assessment Medical assessmentMedical assessment

Implications of DiagnosisImplications of Diagnosis

Having the resource room as a primary room for a Having the resource room as a primary room for a student with a learning disabilitystudent with a learning disability

Children with learning disabilities are mainstreamed into Children with learning disabilities are mainstreamed into classes to assigned times or specific periods of time such classes to assigned times or specific periods of time such as recess, lunch, or physical educationas recess, lunch, or physical education

Children with different learning disabilities are lumped Children with different learning disabilities are lumped togethertogether

Within the resource room specific skills are taught, in Within the resource room specific skills are taught, in contrast to the holistic approach where the students are contrast to the holistic approach where the students are engaged completelyengaged completely

Children with learning disabilities are pulled out of their Children with learning disabilities are pulled out of their classroomsclassrooms

Impact on Social Development and Impact on Social Development and LearningLearning

Social DevelopmentSocial Development Difficulties understanding social cuesDifficulties understanding social cues Trouble reading facial expressions and body languageTrouble reading facial expressions and body language Insensitive towards othersInsensitive towards others Less skilled at resolving disputesLess skilled at resolving disputes Problems processing social informationProblems processing social information Lower self perceptionLower self perception Does not accept responsibilityDoes not accept responsibility Loss of temperLoss of temper

LearningLearning In reading:In reading:

Losing place while readingLosing place while reading Jerking head from side to sideJerking head from side to side Insecurity, crying, refusal to readInsecurity, crying, refusal to read Holding reading material very close to faceHolding reading material very close to face Displays tension while reading – change of voice, Displays tension while reading – change of voice,

fidgeting, biting lipsfidgeting, biting lips Word recognition errorsWord recognition errors Comprehension errorsComprehension errors

In mathematics:In mathematics: Conceptual understandingConceptual understanding Written number symbolsWritten number symbols Procedural steps of computationProcedural steps of computation Application of skillsApplication of skills Poor strategiesPoor strategies CountingCounting Math languageMath language Problem solvingProblem solving Lack of automaticityLack of automaticity

StrategiesStrategies

Positive expectationsPositive expectations Authentic learning experiencesAuthentic learning experiences

Activity-based learningActivity-based learning Multiple intelligencesMultiple intelligences Authentic literacy strategiesAuthentic literacy strategies

Services and SupportsServices and Supports

Integrated Education PlansIntegrated Education Plans Students helping studentsStudents helping students TeamingTeaming School support programsSchool support programs Collaborative teachingCollaborative teaching Professional developmentProfessional development

ConclusionsConclusions