Informational Guide Prema Long SED 527 SED 527

 Specific learning disabilities (SLD) is a term that refers to a wide variety of learning problems. SLD affect the way an individual can acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding in specific areas. SLD affect the way an individual can acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding in specific areas. SLD can occur in a person with an average or above average IQ. Thus, there can be a large discrepancy between academic achievement and the intellectual abilities of person with a learning disability. SLD can occur in a person with an average or above average IQ. Thus, there can be a large discrepancy between academic achievement and the intellectual abilities of person with a learning disability.

Problem AreasDescription Dyslexia Reading Difficulties reading, writing, spelling, speaking Dyscalculia Math Difficulties doing math problems, using money, understanding time, Dysgraphia Writing Difficulties with writing, spelling, organizing ideas Dyspraxia Motor skills Difficulties with fine motor skills such as hand–eye coordination, balance, Dysphasia/Aphasia Language Difficulties understanding spoken language, poor reading comprehension Visual Processing Disorder Interpreting visual information Difficulty interpreting visual information such as maps, charts, symbols, Auditory Processing Disorder Interpreting auditory information Difficulty hearing differences between sounds

A common symptom of dyslexia is the reversal of letters but there are other difficulties as well: A common symptom of dyslexia is the reversal of letters but there are other difficulties as well: Letter and word recognition Letter and word recognition Understanding words and ideas Understanding words and ideas Reading speed and fluency Reading speed and fluency Vocabulary skills Vocabulary skills 10-15% of population in US has dyslexia 10-15% of population in US has dyslexia Want to hear more? Here is a narrative from a young girl in England about her experience with dyslexia Want to hear more? Here is a narrative from a young girl in England about her experience with dyslexia Dyslexia Dyslexia Dyslexia

Sometimes called “Mathematics Disorder” or “Mathematical Difficulties.” A person with dyscalculia has difficulty understanding and using math concepts and symbols. Sometimes called “Mathematics Disorder” or “Mathematical Difficulties.” A person with dyscalculia has difficulty understanding and using math concepts and symbols. Between 3-6% of people have dyscalculia Between 3-6% of people have dyscalculia If you want to learn more, read the latest research or find support for this disability follow this link: If you want to learn more, read the latest research or find support for this disability follow this link: Dyscalculia Dyscalculia Dyscalculia

Dysgraphia is a learning disability in which a person has difficulty expressing thoughts in writing Dysgraphia is a learning disability in which a person has difficulty expressing thoughts in writing May also have difficulty with finger movements and muscle coordination required for writing May also have difficulty with finger movements and muscle coordination required for writing No exact numbers for how many people have dysgraphia because of the vagueness of the disability (i.e is it dysgraphia or poor penmanship?) No exact numbers for how many people have dysgraphia because of the vagueness of the disability (i.e is it dysgraphia or poor penmanship?) For ideas how to help students with dysgraphia practice their handwriting explore this page: For ideas how to help students with dysgraphia practice their handwriting explore this page: Ideas for handwriting practice Ideas for handwriting practice Ideas for handwriting practice Ideas for handwriting practice

A person with dyspraxia has trouble with fine motor skills and coordination. A person with dyspraxia has trouble with fine motor skills and coordination. Dyspraxia also can affect short-term memory and organization. Dyspraxia also can affect short-term memory and organization. 1 in 10 people have dyspraxia including Daniel Radcliffe (a.k.a. Harry Potter). 1 in 10 people have dyspraxia including Daniel Radcliffe (a.k.a. Harry Potter). A first person narrative made by Gabriel about his experience with dyspraxia: A first person narrative made by Gabriel about his experience with dyspraxia: Dyspraxia Narrative Dyspraxia Narrative Dyspraxia Narrative Dyspraxia Narrative

Dysphasia or aphasia is a disability that affects a person’s capacity to communicate Dysphasia or aphasia is a disability that affects a person’s capacity to communicate A person with dysphasia may have trouble understanding common speech and may also utilize nonsense grammar and meaningless phrases in their own speech. A person with dysphasia may have trouble understanding common speech and may also utilize nonsense grammar and meaningless phrases in their own speech. Very small percentage of people have aphasia (around 0.3%) but it is more common among the elderly and people who have suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury. Very small percentage of people have aphasia (around 0.3%) but it is more common among the elderly and people who have suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury.

A visual processing disorder, or visual perceptual disorder, refers to a person’s limited ability to understand what they see. A visual processing disorder, or visual perceptual disorder, refers to a person’s limited ability to understand what they see. Common symptoms Common symptoms Problems discerning shapes Problems discerning shapes Trouble telling foreground from background objects Trouble telling foreground from background objects Difficulty discerning letters and numbers Difficulty discerning letters and numbers Trouble understanding and using symbols Trouble understanding and using symbols

Individuals with an auditory processing disorder cannot process information they hear in the same way as other people. Individuals with an auditory processing disorder cannot process information they hear in the same way as other people. This results in difficulties recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially sounds composing speech. This results in difficulties recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially sounds composing speech. About 5% of population has an auditory processing disorder. About 5% of population has an auditory processing disorder. Thoughts from a student with APD Thoughts from a student with APD Thoughts from a student Thoughts from a student Thoughts from a student Thoughts from a student

While each SLD has common symptoms it is very important to note that a LD will affect individuals in different ways. While each SLD has common symptoms it is very important to note that a LD will affect individuals in different ways. Because of the variability of SLD it makes them hard to identify and diagnose. Because of the variability of SLD it makes them hard to identify and diagnose. LD affect about 20% of the population. Which means as teachers we will be routinely working with students that have a Specific Learning Disability. LD affect about 20% of the population. Which means as teachers we will be routinely working with students that have a Specific Learning Disability.

Differentiated lessons is vital for a student with a SLD Differentiated lessons is vital for a student with a SLD Visual, oral and tactile demonstrations incorporated with in lessons Visual, oral and tactile demonstrations incorporated with in lessons Alternate assessments Alternate assessments Video presentation Video presentation Oral presentation Oral presentation Portfolio Portfolio Technology, technology, technology! Technology, technology, technology! Text readers Text readers Speech to text software Speech to text software

Concise course and lecture outlines Concise course and lecture outlines Books on tape Books on tape Reinforcing directions verbally Reinforcing directions verbally Having written directions Having written directions Videotaped class sessions Videotaped class sessions Using technology Using technology Most computers have assistive technologies on them already or can have software installed Most computers have assistive technologies on them already or can have software installed

The Web has tons of great resources here are a few that I found the most useful: The Web has tons of great resources here are a few that I found the most useful: The Dyspraxia Foundation The Dyspraxia Foundation The Dyspraxia Foundation The Dyspraxia Foundation Learning Disabilities Association of America Learning Disabilities Association of America Learning Disabilities Association of America Learning Disabilities Association of America University of Washington “The Faculty Room” University of Washington “The Faculty Room” University of Washington “The Faculty Room” University of Washington “The Faculty Room” Math Learning Disability Resource Math Learning Disability Resource Math Learning Disability Resource Math Learning Disability Resource Reading From Scratch - Dyslexia Reading From Scratch - Dyslexia Reading From Scratch - Dyslexia Reading From Scratch - Dyslexia

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