Suffolk Region
Gerri Coleman-Odom
Special Education Chair– Advocacy Team
October 16, 2017
Special Education Report
October is Learning Disability Awareness Month!! Before we start celebrating and pushing awareness, we need to make sure that everyone knows what a learning disability is. Learning disabilities by definition “are neurologically-based processing problems. These processing problems can interfere with learning basic skills, such as reading, writing, and or math. They can also interfere with higher level skills such as organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, short and long term memory and attention. It is important that learning disabilities can affect an individual’s life beyond academics, it can impact relations with family, friends and in the work place”- Idaamerica.org
Children with learning disabilities see, hear and understand things differently. They vary from one child to another. Some may have difficulty with reading and spelling, while another loves books, but has problems understanding the math work. It can be difficult to identify a learning disability because of the wide umbrella of symptoms that can be exhibited. Some early signs of a possible learning disability can be: problems learning basic math concepts, poor handwriting, dislike reading, poor organization skills and slow to learn skills. Due to the lack of confidence in their schoolwork, children with learning disabilities can become very frustrated and are very hard on themselves. The frustration can be exhibited in many ways; the child may shut down( internalize their feelings) or act out behaviorally( having conduct issues, at school and at home). It is imperative to help the child, by first getting a diagnosis or classification. This can be done by petitioning the school district to test the child, going to the pediatrician or neurologist.
There are many myths about learning disabilities that need to be brought to light:
Myth: People with learning disabilities cannot learn.
Fact:
-People with LDs are smart and can learn.
-Learning disability means learning in different ways
-When people with learning disabilities, even severe disabilities, receive proper instruction, they will grow academically.
Myth: People with learning disabilities are not smart.
Fact:
-By definition, people with a learning disability have average to above average intelligence. Learning disabilities are not caused by low cognitive ability ( low IQ)
-There are many famous smart people who have had and do have a learning disability
Myth: People can outgrow a learning disability
Fact:
-Because learning disabilities arise from the neurological differences in brain structure, people will not out grow them. However, with proper evidence based instruction and the ability to use appropriate accommodations, people with learning disabilities can learn strategies for navigating life by maximizing on their strengths and minimizing on their weaknesses.
Myth: ADHD is a learning disability.
Fact:
-ADHD is not a learning disability; but is common with children who have learning disabilities.
-ADHD can interfere with the learning process.
Myth: People with learning disabilities are lazy
Fact:
-People with learning disabilities work just hard, if not harder than those without learning disabilities. It is a requirement of both special education law (IDEA) and medical guidelines (DSM-V) that people with learning disabilities/disorder must have a history of receiving interventions in their areas of difficulty before being diagnosed
Interventions, support from the school and from and for family is vital and imperative. We, as a community, should take the time to educate ourselves and each other of the huge umbrella that encompasses learning disabilities, “each one teach one” It is important to shine the spotlight on learning disabilities by focusing less on the disability aspect and focus more on the incredible abilities so many individuals possess as well as emphasizing the phenomenal achievements and important strides that have been made.
Learning disabilities cannot be cured, or fixed, it is a lifelong challenge. However with the proper diagnosis, support and intervention, people with learning disabilities can achieve success in school, at work, in relationships and be productive members of society.
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