Learning Disabilities

Essential Question? What do you think can be done to persuade the College Board of Disabilities to change their process of giving kids accommodations? Do you think it is fair to take away accommodations that kids use everyday when they are taking a standardized test? Do you think it is fair to judge a kid on how ‘disabled’ they are to decided what accommodations they deserve? Do you think it’s fair that the college board of services for students with disabilities have people without any disabilities making decisions for kids with them? Do you think that it is fair that kids with disabilities have to get tested every three years?

What is a learning Disability? “A learning disability is caused by a processing problem in the parts of the brain that handle auditory and visual information, what you hear, or think and what you see and picture in your mind.” -Idame.org The learning difficulty is the symptom of the condition, while processing it is the real problem.

What is an LD? A learning disability is an umbrella term for a numerous amounts of disabilities. The most common learning disabilities that many students in school face, are Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and other processing disorders. Students may also have trouble learning a language, which can hurt them when looking at colleges because many colleges require at least two years of a language. A learning disability is a lifelong “covered” disability. Most kids do not like discussing their disability and sometimes often neglect it, but ignoring their disability won’t help them. Kids can cope and be successful with their disability. With the right help from their school systems, faculties, families and teachers.

Dyslexia & Classroom Accommodations People who tend to struggle with reading, spelling and writing might have dyslexia. A child with dyslexia might need two things: One on One professional tutoring or Classroom accommodations until the student’s reading, writing, spelling skills, reach grade level. Most families try to receive accommodations for their child. Classroom Accommodations are usually brought by a 504 plan What is an Accommodation? “Accommodations are alterations in the way tasks are presented that allow children with learning disabilities to complete the same assignments as other students. Accommodations do not alter the content of assignments, give students an unfair advantage or in the case of assessments, change what a test measures. They do make it possible for students with a LD to show what they know without being impeded by their disability.” -National Center for Learning Disabilities

Teachers in class, Dyslexia & Accommodations A normal teacher is responsible to teach his/her/their student the same curriculum and material. But they should take in consideration that not all students learn the same way. Some students are okay with listening to a teacher lecture and write notes on the board, but for some dyslexic students doing that specific task is troublesome. Dyslexic kids have trouble with processing rapidly-presented auditory information. And on top of that writing and spelling out what the teacher is lecturing. Teachers may need to present their material differently, so that dyslexic students can learn properly. Accommodations doesn’t wholly change curriculum. It just changes the way the teachers present, makes the student practice different learning skills and improves the learning environment for all students.

Are Accommodations Fair? Whether it be for the classroom, during standardized tests, or with teachers people need to realize that every individual student learns differently. Some teachers might believe it’s unfair and not reasonable for students to receive special accommodations in class, but treating students fair doesn’t exactly mean everyone should learn the same way. Everyone has their own learning style and ability. Teachers need to be reminded that kids with any learning disability have no control over it, all they can do it try and use the accommodations they are given in the best way possible. Proper accommodations make kids with learning disabilities successful but it does not put them at an advantage to kids without learning disabilities, it puts them on the same playing field as their peers.

Quotes from Students “I’ve had dyslexia, since I was little and since then I’ve been getting proper accommodations in my classes and for standardized tests, I feel more confident about my schoolwork and education.” -Junior ‘15 “I’ve always had messy handwriting and horrible grammar, but I got tested for dysgraphia and unfortunately, I had to get tested every several years in order to get accommodations, which I find ridiculous.” -Freshman ‘17 “Having Dyslexia is already annoying, but having to get accommodations that aren’t really useful is even more annoying.” Freshman ‘17

What can you do?