Welcome. As part of a larger project that covers topics such as
hearing and vision impairment, wheelchair confinement, and loss of motor skill,
this page is dedicated to educating people about learning disabilities.
What is a learning disability?
How can you tell if someone is learning disabled?
What techniques can be used to help a learning disabled child?
Links for more information
How can you tell if someone is learning disabled?
What techniques can be used to help a learning disabled child?
Links for more information
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to
drop us a letter.
Learning disabilities include conditions such as:
The term LD does not include learning problems that are a result of
a visual, hearing, or motor handicap, mental retardation, or environmental,
cultural, or economic disadvantage.
By Dave Penndorf, Louise Swartz, and Alexis Simpson
What is a Learning Disability ?
The following definition for Learning Disabled (LD) was adopted by the federal government in December
of 1977:
"'Specific learning disability' means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes
involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which may manifest
itself in the ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculation."
Perceptual Handicaps
Brain Injury
Minimal brain dysfunction
Dyslexia
Developmental aphasia
How can I tell if someone is learning disabled?
Any unexplained,persistant problem in learning a basic skill may be due to a learning disability. Some common characteristics of an LD individual are:
Attention difficulty
Perceptual problems
Poor motivation/attitude
Poor sound/symbol association
Memory problems
Language deficits
Transfer difficulties
This list is by no means complete; check the full list of characteristics for more information.
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What techniques can be used to help a learning disabled child?
What techniques can be used to help a learning disabled child?
Although some modifications and accommodations might be necessary to aid a learning disabled
child, the student's program should be as closely aligned with the school and classroom core
curriculum. Help must be individually tailored to meet each student's needs.
For students with difficulty reading, for instance,
"read along techniques" may be applied.Taped textbooks and workbookds my be used for aid.
Students with memory problems may require a carbon copy of a fellow student's notes, or
perhaps the teacher could provide a copy of the class lesson.
For students with difficulty writing, a battery cassette recorder could be provided for the student
to dictate answers to tests or written lessons.
Problems from inefficient short term memories can be avoided with the aid of tables of math
facts, word banks, or other visual aids.
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Links
These links provide more information on learning disabilities.
LD online
LD Association of America
National Center for LD, Inc.
We would also like to thank Learning Disabilities Association, Inc.
for the helpful information they sent us.
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for the helpful information they sent us.