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Disability Information - Learning Disabilities (LD)

 

General Information

Education & Classroom Accommodations

Michigan Resources, Support Groups, Listservs & Websites

National Resources & Websites

Articles Related to this Disability

BookShare.org: Membership Driven Site That Offers Electronic Books
Bookshare.org dramatically increases access to books for the community of visually impaired and otherwise print disabled individuals. This online community enables book scans to be shared, thereby leveraging the collections of thousands of individuals who regularly scan books, eliminating significant duplication of effort.

 

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 General Information

 

Children with Convergence Insufficiency are sometimes diagnosed with Learning Disorders or Dyslexia Overview (from the Mayo Clinic) (Also see Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia)

 

Learning Disabilities Basics (PDF; 17 pages)
This guide covers the fundamental facts about learning disabilities.
 

Learning Disabilities from http://specialchildren.about.com/cs/learningdisabled/

 

All About Learning Disabilities: What if you think your child has a learning disability?

 

Lazy, underachiever, unmotivated, lack of desire to learn, fails to complete assignments, immature. Do these descriptions ring a bell? Living with an "invisible" disability can be extremely frustrating for a child and his parents. When a child is unable to meet educational expectations, typically, an emphasis may be first placed on the child's behaviors. Not every learning disability is readily apparent; some may be far more subtle and harder to diagnose. Unless a child shows clear-cut delays in development, he may fall through the cracks.

 

Learning disabilities have a wide range of categories, even talented and gifted children can have a learning disability in another area of learning. Learning disabilities are lifelong, however, they certainly do not hamper an individual's ability to become a valuable member of society. A learning disability does NOT mean that the person cannot learn. It simply means, that modifications may need to be made to enhance learning.

The most common learning disabilities are:

 

Dyslexia--difficulties in the language area, which may include reading, spelling, and understanding the concept or meaning of the message within the text.
 

Dysgraphia--difficulties in writing letters and/or keeping the written work within a confined space.
 

Dyscalculia--difficulties in the area of math, which include basic math facts and understanding math concepts.
 

Auditory and Visual Processing--difficulties in sensory integration, although the child has normal vision and hearing, processing in the environment is overwhelming.

 

Approximately, 65% of our language is non-verbal. Individuals are assessed by their language abilities, which includes writing, speaking, spelling, and reading.

 

Nonverbal learning disorders (NLD) are also called right-hemisphere learning disorders. NLD is a neurological based learning disorder. This is a complicated learning disorder because it's hard to identify, it often remains undiagnosed, and the children who have it, tend to be misdiagnosed. Children with NLD possess strong skills particularly in the area of language development and rote memory. However, because of the child's inability to interpret non-verbal cues in his environment, it is very difficult for him to understand and respond appropriately.

Children who have NLD exhibit delays in the following areas:

 

Motor--difficulties in coordination and balance.
 

Visual--spatial-organizational-difficulties in visual-spatial recall and perceptions.
 

Social--difficulties in recognizing non-verbal cues and nuances, the inability to interact at an age-appropriate social level, and immature reactions and judgments in comparison to peers.
 

Coping--difficulties in assimilating to new concepts and environments.

 

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) has recently been renamed Auditory Processing Disorder(APD). Typically, the majority of us can learn and process despite background noise. APD is the inability to process language within our environment. Children who are at risk for APD are preemies, kids who have had chronic ear infections, those who are highly distractible and children diagnosed with  ADD/ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, and PDD( the autism spectrum).

 

If you suspect that your child has a learning disability, early intervention is essential. Talk to your child's physician. Contact an early intervention program in your area, or an education specialist. Headstart is an excellent program that works with "at-risk" preschool children. If you suspect that your school-aged child is having difficulties, request an assessment by the school professionals. Empower yourself by researching learning disabilities and most importantly, don't be afraid to speak up on behalf of your child. You are the best advocate for your child, so don't get discouraged and by all means, be persistent.

 

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 Education & Classroom Accommodations

 

SchwabLearning Creates Online "Toolkit" on Learning Disabilities - This new Back-to-School Kit delivers the information you need now and to plan for the school year; includes information, resources, and articles about learning disabilities.

   

Struggling Decoders: Reading Fluently and Making Meaning of Text - As an elementary school teacher and principal for the past 31 years, I have had ample opportunities to listen to students read. By the time that they are in the third grade, most students are able to read with fluency and make sense of at least simple texts. Some students with learning disabilities plod through the same texts that their peers read with ease. When I think about these students, I am struck with how their reading in many ways mirrors my reading when I use my eyes and, to a lesser extent, my fingers.

 

Qualifying for LD in Michigan: The guidelines for determining SLD in Wayne County are available here at http://www.resa.net/sped/guidelines/ldguidelines.pdf.

  

Reading Basics (PDF; 20 pages) - Find out what’s involved in learning to read and how to support a child who struggles with reading.
 

Scientific Learning: A new way to learn - The Fast ForWord family of products develops the critical thinking, listening, and reading skills that are necessary for success in the classroom, the workplace and in everyday life. The Fast ForWord family of products use neuroscience principles to create an optimal learning environment that enables you to: Simultaneously develop multiple skill sets to maximize learning, Identify reading and language difficulties, and Attack the underlying causes of these difficulties.

 

NCLB and Students with Learning Disabilities: Opportunities and Obstacles - The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), the Bush Administration’s bold federal school reform law, includes benefits to students with learning disabilities (LD), as well as some barriers that might prevent these same students from enjoying all of the opportunities in the law.

 

Educating Students with Learning Disabilities - click hereMillions of students have learning disabilities. What is LD, and what types of accommodations and educational practices are effective with students who have this disability? This annotated resource list of articles, books, and videos was developed expressly for special and general educators working with such students. 1996, 12 pages.

 

Learning Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities - click herePair this resource list up with the NICHCY News Digest called Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities and teach your students with LD how to use learning strategies to help themselves learn.

 

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 Michigan Resources, Support Groups, Listservs & Websites

Eton Academy -- An accredited independent co-ed day school for students in grades 1-12 with learning differences. For more information, visit http://www.etonacademy.org or email contact@etonacademy.org.

 

The Alcott Center for Cognitive Enhancement, LLC provides research-based intervention methods including Lindamood-Bell learning processes, PACE/Master the Code, and auditory intervention. Areas of focus include: Learning disabilities, (C)APD, Dyslexia, AD/HD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Speech and Language problems and other developmental delays and disorders. We provide a FREE program screening and a complimentary consultation to review test results and treatment recommendations. Programs are custom-designed to meet the individual needs of each child.

Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan - http://www.ldaofmichigan.org

 

The Michigan Association of Learning Disabilities Educators (MALDE) was formed in 1973 as an organization of individuals interested in the education of students with learning disabilities. We believe that the most effective way to improve education for this diverse group of students is found through cooperative efforts, active participation, communication, and sharing.

 

Learning Disabilities Online - LD In Depth offers a vast array of information on topics within the area of learning disabilities. Here you'll find articles written by the leading experts, research findings reported by top researchers, and the latest news in the field of learning disabilities.

 

The National Center for Learning Disabilities - In the last twenty years since NCLD's founding, there has been significant progress in identifying learning disabilities (LD) and finding effective ways to help those who have them.

 

All Kinds of Minds provides programs, tools, and a common language for parents, educators, and clinicians to help students with differences in learning achieve success in the classroom and in life. Founded in 1995, All Kinds of Minds is a private non-profit Institute, affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that offers a powerful system of programs for helping kids succeed.

 

Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan
200 Museum Drive, Suite 101
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517/485-8160
Toll free: 888/597-7890
Email: ldami@aol.com

Web: www.ldaofmichigan.org
  

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 National Resources & Websites

 

Learning Abled Kids - Your child may struggle in some areas, but this doesn't have to stop them from reaching their full potential. You probably know more about your child's potential than anyone else and know they have skills that are overlooked by others. You also have the daunting task of ensuring your child receives a thorough education, but where do you begin?

 

Free Handbook Empowers Parents of African American Children with LD

 

Learning Disabilities Association of America - www.ldaamerica.org

 

Living With an Invisible Disability

 
National Institute of Mental Health

 

Nonverbal Learning Disorders on the Web

 

Schwab Foundation for Learning

 

Special Education at About.com

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 Articles Related to this Disability

 

Understanding Learning Disabilities - This article provides an overview of learning disabilities, the IDEA definition of learning disabilities, information on useful classroom interventions for students with learning disabilities, and information on how districts can put research findings on effectively teaching students with learning disabilities into practice.

 
Promoting Life Success for Students with Learning Disabilities - This is a transcript from the September 28, 2005 LD Talk online discussion with Roberta Goldberg, Ph.D. and Eleanor Higgins, Ph.D., researchers at the Frostig Center in Pasadena, CA. Goldberg and Higgins answered questions from parents and others across the country.

 

An Interview with Harry Sylvester: About Learning Disabilities - Harry Sylvester is Past President of LDA (Learning Disabilities Association of America), has established several adult support groups, mentored adolescents, and was one of the founders and Board President of a rural health center in Maine.

 

Researchers support early intervention for all children with reading difficulties

 

Pain, Waste, and Hope for a Better Future - "Invisible Disabilities" in the Educational System by Margi Nowak, Ph.D.
 

Dr. Feldman, when teenagers become resistant and won’t listen to their parents, where can they turn for help? - click here for the answer.

 

A Hurdle Too High - I am not your average kid with a learning disability. I am a unique kid with a different style of learning. I did not choose to have this learning disability. It chose me. Because I am stuck with this, I am not going to let this problem get in the way of my success.

 

LD and Your Child: An Age-by-Age Guide

 

Paying for a Disability Diagnosis to Gain Time on College Boards

 

An Encouraging Story: A Learning Disability Doesn't Mean A Student Can't Excel
 

Learning Disabilities: Notes from Secondary Teachers

 

Eye Problems Sometimes Mistaken For Learning Disabilities - Kids' Vision Problems Often Go Unnoticed.
 

MI Technology helps boost writing skills - Computer programs increase test scores, student interest.

 

Read the article "Children's Reading Disability Attributed to Brain Impairment"

 

Voice of Experience: Learn why teacher Janice Robertson looks forward to integrating special-needs students into her classroom lessons. [source]

 

MI Some schools to get funds to boost kids' reading skills - Some Oakland County schools may be able to win as much as $400,000 to teach children to read.

 

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NOTE: (ALL RESOURCES PRE-IDEA 2004 ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL/HISTORICAL RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY)