Lindsay Archambault

Introduction to Learning Disabilitieshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCqeFxDgacQ

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Definition of Learning DisabilitiesThe Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA), defines LD as a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.

The disability can manifest in input, organization, memory, or output.

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What LD is not

LD’s do not include learning problems that are a result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.

http://www.ldonline.org/features/idea2004#components 4

Types of Learning DisabilitiesDyslexia- language and reading basedDyscalculia- math basedDysgraphia- writing basedAuditory and Visual Processing Disorders-

sensory confusionNonverbal Learning Disabilities- neurological

disorder affecting the right side of the brain.Dyspraxia- problem sending messages from

the brain to the body

http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/whatisld5

Educational ImplicationsLearning disabilities can affect one or more of the following learning activities:

http://www.spcollege.edu/central/hr/accommodations_manual.htm 6

Related IssuesADHDBrain Processing Disorders: Language

Disability, Motor Coordination Disorder, organization and executive function.

Difficulty with Regulation of Emotions: Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Anger Control, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Tic DisordersBipolar Disorderhttp://link.brightcove.com/services/player/

bcpid13847493001?bclid=6971547001&bctid=5204486001 7

PrevalenceFifteen percent of the U.S. population, or one

in seven Americans, has some type of learning disability, according to the National Institutes of Health.

As many as 80% of students with learning disabilities have reading problems.

50% of people with LD’s will also have a related disorder.

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Etiology/CausesNational Center for Learning Disabilities

states that there is frequently no apparent cause for learning disabilities.

Some research indicates that the following could cause LD’s: heredity, problems during the mothers pregnancy, head injuries, nutritional deprivation, and exposure to toxic substances.

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CharacteristicsStudents with reading LD’s may have problems

with rhyming, segmenting, and blending which leads to difficulty with decoding.

Students with writing LD’s may have problems with spelling, poor hand writing, and trouble expressing thoughts on paper.

Students with math LD’s may have problems with sequencing, grouping, sorting, comparing and contrasting, matching, and recognizing numbers and/or objects. They may also have difficulty with memorizing basic math functions and applying them. If the problem is visual-spatial, they may have difficulty understanding written directions.

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How it affects developmentChildren with one or more of these disorders may

miss out on learning basic skills which leads to an inability to master more complex skills that build on the basics.

People with LD’s can have difficulty exhibiting appropriate social skills including an inability to monitor language effectively. Many times the offender has no idea what they did wrong and why people react the way they do.

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Assessment and DiagnosisA professional must evaluate the person based

on conversation and observation. This could be a clinical psychologist, school psychologist, Educational psychologist, neuropsychologist, school counselor, social worker, psychiatrist, or many other types of doctors.

Testing will occur to see intellectual or cognitive potential, testing of information processing or sensory motor abilities, and assessment of current educational achievement.

Testing can include IQ or cognitive tests, educational achievement tests, projective personality tests, questionnaires and surveys, speech and language tests, and neuropsychological tests. 12

TreatmentsThe first step is recognizing that there is a

LD by evaluating strengths and weaknesses.Establish strategies to help the student

overcome the LD.Explicitly teach social behaviors in context

when needed using positive reinforcement.

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Tips for teachersProvide strategies for organization, like graphic

organizers. Provide opportunity for extra help and practice with

skills.Explore options for materials that can help such as

raised line paper, certain pens or pencils, color overlays, or read instructions aloud.

Have students complete tasks in small steps rather than all at once.

Use explicit instruction and provide constructive feedback that focuses on strengths and weaknesses.

Use assistive technology.When a student acts out inappropriately, teach them

what they did wrong and how to self correct instead of resorting to punishment all the time.

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Specific techniques to tryProvide read along tapes for texts and materialsAllow students to record lessons for playbackProvide outlines of your lessonsProvide videos or talking books to provide general

informationComputers with word processing softwareMis-speller’s dictionary Type handouts, use large print and double spacingMnemonicsMulti sensory approach to teaching Student made dictionary’s full of items they have trouble

withAllow sufficient wait time when asking questionsAsk questions out loud and provide them in written form

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Assessment- Identify the LD Jenny has normal vision and intelligence. She reads much slower than the other kids in her

class. When reading out loud she sometimes skips words or substitutes similar words. She has trouble understanding what she just read. Even when you tell her a story out loud she has difficulty recounting the story to you. She commonly transposes similar letters and numbers. She has trouble seeing and hearing similarities and differences in letters and words. What does Jenny have?

Timmy displays normal language acquisition and has a good visual memory for the printed word. He has trouble with simple tasks such as keeping track of time, recalling schedules, and sequencing past or future events. He has inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. He has difficulty doing simple math in his head. He has poor long term memory recall, for example he does well with a new math concept today but is unable to perform the same math concept the following day. What does Timmy have?

Judy is very bright and excels in reading. However when asked to write anything it seems to take a great deal of effort and is a very slow process. She only writes in cursive if she has to and her print shows inconsistent and irregular letter formations. She often uses an inappropriate mixture of upper and lower case letters. Her peers think she is lazy because she exhibits low classroom productivity, incomplete homework assignments, and has difficulty in focusing attention. What does Judy really have?

Ben has poor coordination. When he runs or jumps it is very awkward for him. He has poor handwriting and some speech issues. He is overly sensitive to light, touch, smells, taste, and space. What might Ben suffer from?

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I’m not stupid, I have a learning disability

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid13847493001?bclid=6971547001&bctid=5543956001

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Transition into AdulthoodLearn to become a self advocateAdults with LD have the right to any job they are

qualified for and the right to ask for accommodations that enable them to complete their job effectively.

Knowledge of and access to techniques to help those with LD’s help themselves enable them to lead a normal adult lifestyle.

Upon graduation from High School, students should be provided with a Summary of Performance (SOP)

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Take home assessmentVisit the website:

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/screeningquizzes/l/bl_ld.htm

Take the quiz regarding learning disabilities. If you know a child that you suspect has a learning disability answer for that child. If not, answer it for yourself.

Post your results on your assessment area of your wiki. Were the results surprising? Did you learn anything new? What did you think about the assessment?

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Referenceshttp://www.spcollege.edu/central/hr/

accommodations_manual.htmhttp://www.ldonline.org/ Dr. Don Deshler, Center for Research on Learning.http://www.ldanatl.org/

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