THE LEARNING DISABILITY

CONFUSION

Karen Autrey

Abigail Edrozo

Diane Mahnke

Melissa Swiderski

Heather Whittenburg

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CONFUSION IN REGARDS TO LEARNING DISABILITIES?

Learning Disabilities are an

unexplained and distinct variance

between the expected ability and the

actual performance of a student.

Learning disabilities can affect a person’s ability in the areas of:

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Spelling

Reasoning

Mathematics

(National Center for Learning Disabilities Inc, 2014)

WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY?IDEA’s definition states learning disabilities “maymanifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think,speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations”(U. S. Department of Education, 2014, p. ).

WHAT SIGNS MIGHT A STUDENT DISPLAY IF THEY HAVE LD?

Learning Disability Terminology

Disability ExampleArea of

Difficulty

Symtoms – Trouble

With

Dyslexia

Dysgraphia

Dyscalculia

Dyspraxia

Processing

Language

Reading

Writing

Spelling

Fine Motor

Skills

Written

Expression

Math Skills

Trouble with scissors,

buttons, drawing

Coordination

Manual Dexterity

Illegible handwriting, difficulty

organizing ideas for writing

Hand writing Spelling

Composition

Difficulty learning to count by 2s, 3s,

4s, poor mental math skills,

problems with spatial

directionsDisability

Computation Math facts

memorization

Concepts of time and money

Confuse letter names & sounds, trouble with

sound blends &words, slow reader, trouble

remembering after reading text.

NCLD Editorial Team, 2014

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF LEARNING DISABILITY?

STRATEGIES TO PREVENT MISDIAGNOSIS

“A careful and thorough review of concerns, with input from multiple sources…is the only way to rule in or rule out a learning disability.”

(National Center for Learning Disabilities Inc, 2014)

A CRUCIAL COMPONENT TO INTERVENTION

HOW CAN I HELP MY LDSTUDENT THRIVE?

PhysicallyMentallyEmotionally

RESOURCES FOR PARENTSThe National Center for Learning Disabilities

http://ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities

Disability Resources

http://www.disabilityresources.org/

Raising Special Kids

http://www.raisingspecialkids.org/

Pacer Center

http://www.pacer.org/

Learning Ally

https://www.learningally.org/parents-students/parent-resources-overview/

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS CONTD….Learning Disabilities Online

http://www.ldonline.org/parents

Head Start

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities

http://nichcy.org/

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

http://www.loc.gov/nls/

The Autism Society

http://www.autism-society.org/

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Development

http://www.ciera.org/

United States Department of Education

http://www.ed.gov/

National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org/institute/

WORDS FROM A SPECIAL EDUCATOR

QUESTIONS????

REFERENCESCommon Signs of Learning Disabilities (2014). Retrived from http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/signs

Dellinger, A.B., Daniel, C.S., Stuhlmann, J., Ellett, C.D. (1999). Triangulating multiple perspectives on

classroom environments for disabled students: Whose Truth? Retrieved from ERIC database.

Echevarria, J., Vogt, M., & Short, D. (2013). Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners:

The SIOP Model. (4th Ed.). Pearson: Upper Saddle River.

McFarland-McDaniels, M. (2012). Children respond to a positive learning environment. Retrieved from

http://www.brighthubeducation.com

REFERENCES CONT…National Center for Learning Disabilities Inc. (2014). What Are Learning Disabilities? Retrieved from

http://ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/what-is-ld/what-are-learning-disabilities

Support and Resources for Educators (2014), http://ldaamerica.org/educators/

Vogelsang, Faith. (2010) Teaching Special Education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCMHWf-K6ys

Zirkel, Perry & Rose, Tessie. (2009). Scientifically Based Research and Peer-Reviewed Research Under the IDEA.

Journal of Special Education Leadership. Vol. 22. Issue. 1.