The term learning disabilities is widely accepted for what it is, but what exactly is it? Developing a definition for learning disabilities proved to be a formidable challenge according to Janet Lerner, in fact it was such an overpowering task it has been compared to “Justice Potter Stewart’s comment on pornography: impossible to define, “but I know it when I see it.”” (Lerner 2002, p.8) Similarly, a mathematical learning disability is a formidable endeavour to try and define, mainly due to the extent and complexity of the field of mathematics. (http://ldx.sagepub.com/content/37/1/4.full.pdf+html ) “One meaningful way of contextualising ‘learning disabilities’ is to think about it as an umbrella term under which all affected individuals are described as having varying degrees of impairment of intellectual and social functioning” (GOOGLE BOOK, p.22) Distinguishing if someone has a learning disability can be difficult as a result it is often not possible to rely solely on one single criterion in order to provide the answer. Therefore (GOOGLE BOOK) stated that three principles which have been used consist of intellectual ability, legislative definitions and social competence. http://books.google.ie/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9f78JovnJPEC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=learning+disability*+inclusion%5D&ots=S8CYL163Vh&sig=o4fzREcYlBvprnfpNUavR64COdo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false A mathematical learning disability can be described as students who struggle with remembering mathematics facts, concepts, rules, formulas, sequences, and procedures (Mishra 2012). Similarly a MLD has been described as difficulties applying basic operations in one or more of the domains within mathematics. This indicates interference with “the sense of quantity, symbols decodin... ... middle of paper ... ...fs and knowledge; the influence of teachers’ beliefs on instruction; and the role teacher education programs play in both altering teachers’ beliefs and fostering an awareness of the importance beliefs play in instruction” (p.5) Brantlinger (1996) categorized teachers’ attitudes and beliefs toward inclusion as either “inclusive beliefs” or “anti-inclusive beliefs” which facilitate and maximise inclusive environments hinder and weaken the implementation of inclusive strategies in schools respectively (p.19). Janney et al. (1995) found that the more experience you have with integrating students into the classroom the more comfortable you were and positive your attitudes were as a result. Thos was backed up by McLeskey et al. (2001), who established that teachers’ negative attitudes toward inclusion stem from a lack of experience with well-designed inclusion programs.
Basically, there are two parts to a learning disability: one is processing and the second
Will, M. (1986, November). Educating students with learning problems-a shared responsibility. Washington, DC: Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
When children do not seem to learn in school, some edifiers and parents may cerebrate the child is just imbecilic or does not have a desire to learn. What they fail to realize is there child has a learning disability. A learning disability can make a person feel like it takes over their lives. But with the right assistance and hard work it will not affect their future success.
A learning disability is defined as any one of various conditions that interfere with an individual's ability to learn, resulting in impaired functioning in language, reasoning, or academic skills. The National Center for Learning Disabilities explains it as a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive process, store and respond to information. Basically, among people with learning disabilities there is a noticeable gap between their level of expected achievement and their actual achievement. Doctors and professionals agree there is no way to pin-point any specific causes for learning disabilities. The NCLD says some possible causes may include heredity, problems during pregnancy or birth, head injuries or nutritional deprivation after birth, and exposure to toxic substances.
The classroom is a diverse place where learners from all different genres of life meet. Included in these learners are those that display learning disabilities. According to the British Columbia School Superintendent’s Association, ‘learning disabilities refer to a number of conditions that might affect the acquisition, organization, retention, understanding or use of verbal or nonverbal information. These disorders affect learning in individuals who otherwise demonstrate at least average abilities essential for thinking and/or reasoning’. They also posit that ‘learning disabilities result from impairments in one or more processes related to perceiving, thinking, remembering or learning. These include, but are not limited to language processing,
Eleven-year-old Anna is outgoing and bright. She attempts to work hard, but her progress in school has always been slow. She is a year behind her peers, particularly in her English class and her teachers have slowly begun to reduce their expectations of her. Her parents are worried because her confidence for learning is decreasing, and there is less motivation for her to do homework and class assignments. A psychologist found that her intelligence is in the gifted range, but she has difficulty in making out written symbols. It is easy to make the assumption that Anna seems merely as a child who is slow intellectually, but when taking a closer look, it shows that she is just as intelligent but happens to suffer from a learning disorder. Students with learning disorders have brain impairments that make it difficult for them to acquire skills and knowledge accurately and fast enough to keep pace with average academic progress (Encarta, 2003, p.1). The purpose of this research paper is to investigate the causes of learning disorders, various types of disabilities, their causes, and finally how in today’s modern era assistive technology is able to reduce the frustration of students and increase their level of performance.
“Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.” (Einstein). Developmental disability, better known as intellectual disability, or mental retardation is a disorder that causes individuals to preform at below average levels (“Intellectual”). This disorder is characterized by continued infant-like behavior, decreased learning ability, failure to meet the markers of intellectual development, inability to meet educational demands, and a lack of curiosity (“Intellectual”). Some people with intellectual disabilities are able to live normal lives, while others may require assistance. Most people with intellectual disabilities have the same capacity to preform the same task as those without intellectual disabilities.
The inclusion movement started when the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed in 1975. The act guaranteed all children, regardless of disability, the right to a “free and appropriate public education” in the “least restrictive environment,” making inclusion a civil rights issue. In 1990 it was replaced with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to NICHCY, “IDEA defines a ‘child with a disability’ as a ‘child... with an intellectual disability, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance..., orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities; AND, who... [because of the condition] needs special education and related services.’” (2011) According to Western Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Research inclusion is based o...
The impact of having a learning disability are lifelong. A student with a learning disability may always need extra help to get through certain aspects of life after they graduate high school. If the student is going to college accommodations and specific learning strategies will need to be used to help them through their courses. Their personal lives may also be affected due to a learning disability. “For example, Johnson and Blalock found that, of the 93 adults studied in an LD clinic sample, 36% continued to receive counseling or psychotherapy for low self-esteem, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and frustration.” (1987) The difficulties associated with learning disabilities can affect them daily and their past experiences with it can follow them into adulthood and bring up unhappy memories of struggling with learning disabilities as a child.
specific learning disabilities in the United States of America. The Journal of International Association of Special Education, 10(1), 21-26.
The idea of inclusion within a classroom tends to breed controversy from many people. Currently there is no clear consensus on a definition of inclusion (Heward, 2006). There are many different views on how students with disabilities should be handled. Those views ranged from students being fully included, partially included, or not included at all in mainstream schooling. Different descriptions of inclusion tend to reflect the person's own opinions towards it. People who feel students should not be included in the classroom focus on the negative characteristics of inclusion, such as the challenges of developing plans for students as well as the hard work it requires to incorporate those plans. However, studies show that full inclusion has many benefits to the students, for both students with disabilities as well as students without them. Inclusion has shown to improve the student's social skills, encourage communication, inspire laws and regulations, and improve the overall schooling experience (Gargiulo, 2012). Although it will take longer then some would like or have the patience for, full inclusion can be done in the classroom, with its benefits outweighing the hard work that it requires.
Shulman, L.S. (1986) Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational Researcher, 15 (2), p.4-14.
“What does inclusive education mean for me as a teacher in 2014 and beyond? “
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (1993). “General Information About Learning Disabilities.” NICHCY.
Kids with learning disabilities may not be the best in the class room, but they are smarter than what most people think. A lot of people think that kids with L.D think that they are “dumb” or “lazy,” when really, they just have troubles understanding. One third of kids in Special Ed. have a learning disability. (Nichcy) One million kids between the ages of six and twenty -one, have a L.D. (Nichcy) Five to six percent have a learning disability between six and seven years old. (Daniel P. Hallaham, 2008) Boys outnumber the girls by three to one. (Daniel P. Hallaham, 2008) Since 1976, Learning Disabilities have more than doubled. (Daniel P. Hallaham, 2008)