 |
Special Services
Kenny Lake School K-12 Kenny Lake, Alaska Special Education and Title 1 LaDonna Rees |
Is My
Child Learning Disabled ?  |
 Home |
 Referrals |
Instructional Programs |
Is My Child Learning Disabled? |
Special Olympics |
Home Learning |
Helpful Links |
 What is a Learning Disability? For school purposes, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines learning disability in these ways: The term means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction,dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. People with learning disabilities have average to superior intelligence. Many are gifted in math, science, fine arts, journalism, music, and other creative fields. A list of such people would include Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill and many others who have changed the course of our world. However, a learning disabled person’s tremendous strengths are offset by noticeable weaknesses -an inability to read or write, memory problems, difficulty understanding what is heard or seen.These difficulties stem, not from a physical problem with the eyes or ears, but rather from the basic neurological functioning of the brain. Every human brain is created with a unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses. We each have certain areas that make sense to us easily as well as areas of difficulty that require outside explanation and extra effort to understand. A learning disability is an area of weakness or inefficiency in brain function that significantly hinders our ability to learn or to function in life. It is a pattern of neurological dysfunction in the brain that causes a person to have difficulty correctly receiving information coming into the brain (perception), correctly processing that information once it is received (cognition/thinking), or satisfactorily responding to the information once it has been processed (written and verbal expression, visual-motor coordination, memory, etc). Students with learning disabilities experience an imbalance in their own ability levels. They are very good at some things, very poor at others and feel the tension between what they can and cannot do. Frustration is a hallmark of a student with learning disabilities. Typically such students will either be failing in one or more academic areas or be expending excessive amounts of energy to succeed. Also, they are also highly inconsistent, able to do a task one day and unable the next. Q: What types of difficulties should I look for in my child? A: Characteristics vary with age and sometimes with content area. It is important that you assess the importance of any particular behavior in relation to the student’s age and peers. Some of the behaviors that might make you suspect that a student has a learning disability appear in the following lists. Please understand that no one of these problems is diagnostic; that is, many children and youths show these problems from time to time. Use the problems listed here as hintsrather than markers. Preschool Does the child have difficulty (delayed development) * Learning the alphabet? * Rhyming words? * Connecting spoken sounds with letters? * Counting and learning numbers? * Being understood when he or she speaks to a stranger? * Using scissors, crayons, and paints? * Reacting too much or too little to touch? * Using words or, later, stringing words together into phrases? * Pronouncing words? * Walking forward or up and down stairs? * Remembering the names of colors? * Dressing him- or herself without assistance. Elementary School Does the child have difficulty * Reading accurately? * Learning new vocabulary? * Speaking in full sentences? * Understanding the rules of conversation? * Retelling stories? * Remembering newly learned information? * Playing with peers? * Moving from one activity to another? * Expressing thoughts verbally or in writing? * Holding a pencil? * Writing letters and numerals by hand? * Computing math problems at his or her grade level? * Following directions? * Remembering routines? * Learning new skills? * Understanding what he or she reads, * Succeeding in one or more subject areas? * Drawing or copying shapes? * Understanding what information presented in class is important, * Modulating voice (may speak to loudly or in a monotone)? * Keeping materials neat and assignments organized? * Remembering and sticking to deadlines? * Understanding how to play age-appropriate games? Adolescence and Adulthood Does the individual have difficulty * Remembering newly learned information? * Staying organized? * Understanding what he or she reads? * Getting along with peers or coworkers? * Finding or keeping a job? * Understanding jokes that are subtle or sarcastic? * Making appropriate remarks? * Expressing thoughts verbally or in writing? * Following directions? * Using basic skills (such as reading, writing, spelling, and math)? * Using proper grammar in spoken or written communication? * Remembering and sticking to deadlines? Remember if you are concerned about a student, you should discuss your observations with appropriate school personnel. We are here to help.  Still have questions? Want to know more about learning disabilities or other disabilities? check out the weblinks in the helpful links section. |
Home |
Referrals |
Instructional Programs |
Is My Child Learning Disabled? |
Special Olympics |
Home Learning |
Helpful Links |
| © 2005 by LaDonna Rees. Any part of this document may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means provided proper citation and credit are given for the work and no-cost dissemination is intended. Page last updated 12/10/05. |