Disabilities – Learning
General Information About Learning Disabilities
- Learning Disability (Wikipedia)
Learning disability (sometimes called a learning disorder or learning difficulty), is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors. The unknown factor is the disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive and process information. This disorder can make it problematic for a person to learn as quickly or in the same way as someone who isn't affected by a learning disability. Learning disability is not indicative of intelligence level. Rather, people with a learning disability have trouble performing specific types of skills or completing tasks if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways. A learning disability cannot be cured or fixed. With the right support and intervention, however, people with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to be successful later in life.
Organizations About Learning Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities Association of America
If you are a parent or teacher of a child with a learning disability – or have learning disabilities yourself – you are not alone. Typical learning difficulties include dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia – often complicated by associated disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Resources About Learning Disabilities (Websites, Blogs)
- Government Programs for Learning Disabilities (About.com)
Learn about federal and state government programs providing services to students and adults with learning disabilities and other types of disabilities. Find resources that may be available to you or your child to support learning, employment, independence, and more. Find information on special education programs in public schools and covered public institutions. - Learning Disabilities (KidsHealth.org)
For someone diagnosed with a learning disability, it can seem scary at first. But a learning disability doesn't have anything to do with a person's intelligence – after all, such successful people as Walt Disney, Alexander Graham Bell, and Winston Churchill all had learning disabilities. - Learning Disabilities (MedicineNet.com)
Learning disabilities can cause an individual to have trouble learning and using skills such as reading, listening, writing, reading, speaking, reasoning, and performing mathematics. There is no cure for learning disabilities. Parents and teachers working together to properly diagnose learning disabilities can properly plan a course of education. For some, medication may be appropriate as complimentary treatment. - Learning Disabilities in Children (HelpGuide.org)
If you think your child might have a learning disability, you may feel overwhelmed by the information, the numerous tests, and the lack of clarity about how to get the best help for your child. What you need is a roadmap for sifting through the information and finding the valuable support that is available. - Learning Disabilities Information Page (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) support research learning disabilities through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research avenues focus on developing techniques to diagnose and treat learning disabilities and increase understanding of their biological basis.
More PEKD Advocacy pages on Learning Disabilities are linked below:
