| A learning disability is defined as a | | | | the way he should. Perhaps his brain |
| permanent problem | | | | doesn't process the |
| | | | |
| that affects a person with average to above | | | | information the right way. He may process |
| average | | | | information much |
| | | | |
| intelligence, in the way that he/she | | | | slower than other people. Or he may not |
| receives, stores, | | | | process what he sees effectively. Some people |
| | | | can't process what they hear as well |
| and processes information.There are many | | | | |
| wrong ideas out there about | | | | as what they see. Other people can't |
| | | | remember information unless |
| learning disabilities. For example:1) A | | | | |
| learning disability will go away in time. | | | | it's repeated again and again, and some |
| | | | people have real trouble getting the |
| Unfortunately, this is not true. The good | | | | information out of that filing system they |
| news is, you can | | | | have in |
| | | | |
| learn ways to get around the problem. For | | | | their brain. Typically people with learning |
| example, kids who | | | | disabilities |
| | | | |
| have trouble taking notes in class, like | | | | work harder than others - but with lesser |
| Michele did, can | | | | results. It's not |
| | | | |
| record the class on audiotape. Other | | | | about hard work - it's a learning |
| students can make copies | | | | disability.4) A person with a learning |
| | | | disability can't do anything right. |
| of the notes they have taken for them. The | | | | |
| teacher can make | | | | Even though a child may have a learning |
| | | | disability in one or |
| copies of the notes they are lecturing from. | | | | |
| Or, when the notes | | | | two areas, it doesn't mean they can't do |
| | | | anything right. |
| are written on an overhead transparency | | | | |
| during the lecture, | | | | My daughter struggled with a disability in |
| | | | math, but what a |
| they can be copied after class and given to | | | | |
| the student.For children who have trouble | | | | wonderful writer she is! And she has more |
| reading, tapes of many of the | | | | knowledge about how |
| | | | |
| textbooks are made available through the | | | | to get around a computer than many people |
| publishing companies. | | | | have - I envy that |
| | | | |
| At one school where I taught volunteers did | | | | ability because I think I have a learning |
| the taping. | | | | disability in |
| | | | |
| We also used tapes that were recorded by a | | | | that area! I've known students who, even |
| company called | | | | though they struggled |
| | | | |
| Recordings for the Blind.2) A person with a | | | | with math or reading, were excellent around |
| learning disability has a low IQ. | | | | heavy equipment or automobile engines or |
| | | | carpentry or drafting. Many could do |
| Again - not true. A person with a learning | | | | |
| disability has | | | | things with a computer that seemed |
| | | | impossible.The important thing is that, if |
| an average or better IQ. There are many | | | | your child has a learning |
| people who are very | | | | |
| | | | disability, or even if you suspect he might |
| smart, but for some reason, they cannot | | | | have one, learn |
| learn as well as their | | | | |
| | | | everything you can so that you will know |
| IQ suggests they should. I tell my students | | | | what to expect and |
| that having a | | | | |
| | | | what not to expect from him as well as from |
| learning disability is really a compliment | | | | his teachers and |
| because it means | | | | |
| | | | his educational program. That way you will |
| that they are very smart! Unfortunately, | | | | be able to |
| because a negative | | | | |
| | | | understand and help him in the best way |
| by-product of a learning disability is often | | | | possible.While none of us wishes our child to |
| low self-esteem | | | | have a learning disability, |
| | | | |
| they don't always believe me. So remember, | | | | if he or she does, recognizing and dealing |
| the self-esteem | | | | with that fact is the |
| | | | |
| issue is as important to deal with as the | | | | intelligent approach to take. It's only when |
| learning | | | | we recognize the |
| | | | |
| disability itself!3) A person with a | | | | truth about our child's condition, that we |
| learning disability is just lazy. | | | | can learn how to |
| | | | |
| There has to be a reason why the person with | | | | maximize his or her abilities and minimize |
| LD doesn't learn | | | | their dis-abilities.Want to be an advocate |
| | | | for your child? |