*Note*: Please read this post even if you don't have a child who is learning disabled. I know that many of you will one day (if not already) meet or know someone who has been affected. This information is for ALL parents and educators.
The following information was taken from the notes given to me when I went to the workshop given by Churchill Academy. We had the opportunity of seeing the "F.A.T City Learning Disability Workshop" hosted by Richard D. Lavoie. I have already explained how wonderful the movie was and how much my husband and I learned.
I have to admit that I used to have misconceptions and prejudgments about people who were in "special education" when I was growing up. I thought people who were Learning Disabled (LD) were dumb and couldn't learn. I thought it meant that they were "mentally retarded". However, being LD doesn't mean that at all. After going to this workshop I have a better understanding of what it means.
One of the main points made at the workshop was that there is no clear and widely accepted definition of "learning disabilities", and because of the nature of the field and ongoing debate on the issue of definition there are currently at least twelve definitions that appear in the professional literature! However, they DO agree on certain factors:
1) The learning disabled have difficulties with academic achievement and progress; discrepancies exist between a person's potential for learning and what he actually learns.
2) The learning disabled show an uneven pattern of development (language development, physical development, academic development).
3) Learning problems are NOT due to environmental disadvantage.
4) Learning problems are NOT due to mental retardation or emotional disturbance.
The term "learning disability" was coined by Dr. Samuel Kirk in 1962. It is often referred to as the "hidden handicap" because there is no outward appearance of the disability. Children with learning disabilities appear to be no different than their normal peers.
I think that last statement is one of the most important things I want people to know. There are so many times when teachers and educators misunderstand the behavior of kids. Just imagine being a child who has difficulty processing information (perhaps you have dyslexia) and a teacher puts you on the spot constantly and belittles you in front of the class. Imagine how much your self-esteem would suffer. What about that kid who cannot concentrate on the teacher because he has to work extra hard to block out distractions such as noises outside or someone tapping their pencil on their desk. Imagine the improvement in classroom behavior and academic achievement if educators learned the different types of challenges some kids face. Not only that, but think of the practicality for parents. What if we could understand why our kids behave the way they do?
What Causes Learning Disabilities? That is a good question. Here are some general observations that have been found:
1) Some children develop and mature at a slower rate than others in the same age group. As a result, they may not be able to do the expected school work. This kind of learning disability is called "maturational lag."
2) Some children with normal vision and hearing may misinterpret everyday sights and sounds because of some unexplained disorder of the nervous system.
3) Injuries before birth or in early childhood may account for some later learning problems.
4) Children born prematurely and children who had medical problems soon after birth sometimes have learning disabilities.
5) Learning disabilities tend to run in families, so some learning disabilities may be inherited.
6) Learning disabilities are more common in boys than girls, possibly because boys tend to mature more slowly.
7) Some learning disabilities appear to be linked to the irregular spelling, pronunciation, and structure of the English language. The incidence of learning disabilities is lower in Spanish or Italian-speaking countries.
Interesting stuff, huh? Don't worry....there's more, but I will continue the topic another day.
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Next time: What are the early warning signs
of learning disabilities.
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