Learning Disabilities
A learning disability is a disorder in the way a person processes information. This kind of disability can affect how a person acquires, organizes, expresses, retains and understands verbal and non-verbal information. Examples include dyslexia (difficulty understanding written words), dyscalculia (difficulty solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts) and auditory or visual processing disorders (difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision).
Tips
Don’t confuse a person with a learning disability with other types of disabilities such as developmental, mental or sensory disabilities. It may be helpful to remember that persons with learning disabilities learn differently from others. When communicating and interacting with someone with a learning disability:
Speak naturally, clearly and directly to the person.
Provide information in a way that works best for that person. For example, even if you have written notes, it may be helpful to verbalize the information too. If you are not sure, gently ask the person if there’s a different way you can provide the information that would be helpful.
Be patient and willing to explain something again.
Extra time to complete a task is often helpful. As some students with dyslexia may take longer to read and understand written words, it is often helpful when they have extra time to complete an in-class activity.
Did You Know?
Many people with learning disabilities have met with success and fame in their chosen field. Whoopi Goldberg and Tom Cruise are two highly successful entertainers who have talked openly about their learning disability.
Charles Schwab, a very successful investor (among the top 100 richest people in the US), says about his dyslexia, “Although I am a very slow reader, I’m really good at concepts and visualization. I can process all kinds of stuff and get to the conclusion much quicker that other people who have to go step by step.”
See Resources for more information about these celebrities and the organizations they support.
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