What Is a Learning Disability?
Typically, students with learning disabilities have an average intelligence but they will require more specific instructional strategies, program modifications or accommodations. A learning disability does not include a disability resulting from vision, hearing impaired, physical or behavior. Although, many behavior disabled students often have learning difficulties. Descrepancies between academic performance and actual intellectual ability will occur. Diagnosis of a learning disability usually occurs after the child has had a WISC R performed which is the standardized test and is done by a psychologist - usually. Definitions of learning disabilities will often vary from district to district but do tend to convey a common meaning.
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Here's a comprehensive list of characteristics of learning disabled students by their specific category:
Body and Spatial Relationships
Best Practices
- Provide a positive learning climate that fosters improved self esteem/confidence
- Remember that the inclusive classroom works best and the child will benefit from much 1 to 1 for individual support which is dependent on the area of disability e.g., math, reading, writing etc.
- Provide a quite place to work such as a study carrell
- Provide visual cues and peer mentoring
- Provide specific skill instruction.
- Present information in as many modalities as is possible
- Provide consistent and ongoing clarification
- Teach the students 'strategies' not just facts
- Keep instructions and directions simple, one at a time
- Repeat or rephrase instructions
- Reduce working time and expectations initially to ensure the student is successful
- Try to ensure that there's a good partnership between home and school and keep parents informed as to how they can support at home.
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Provide alternative testing strategies: vocal, dictated etc.
Remember, much can be done to support and assist the child with a learning disability. The earlier the disability is detected, the earlier the appropriate interventions can be put into place which often leads to better outcomes. Patience, self-esteem boosting and a belief in the child is critical.
