1. Students with Learning Disabilities History, Definitions, and Characteristics

2. Chapter Objectives
Discuss the history of the development of the learning disabilities field.
Discuss current trends regarding the identification of students with learning disabilities.
Identify the components of the various definitions and identification criteria of learning disabilities.
List characteristics of students with learning disabilities.
Discuss the prevalence of learning disabilities.

3. Understanding Disabilities: A Historical Perspective
Foundation Period (1800–1960)
Emergent Period (1961–1974)
Solidification Period (1975–1987)
Turbulent Period (1988–Present)

4. Important Legislation Regarding Learning Disabilities
PL Specific Learning Disabilities Act of 1969
PL Education for All Handicapped Children Act
PL Amended PL , IDEA
PL Amended PL , 1986 addition to IDEA
PL Reauthorization of IDEA
PL Amended PL to include children birth to age 3
New Legislation—2005

5. Definitions of Learning Disability
Minimal Brain Dysfunction
NACHC
IDEA
Definitions Used by State Departments of Education
National Joint Committee on LD
Association for Children with LD
Interagency Committee on LD

6. Components of the IDEA Definition
Process Component
Language Component
Academic Component
Neurological Component
Exclusion Component
Identification Component

7. Characteristics of Learning Disabilities
Discrepancy factor
Academic Learning Difficulty
Language Disorders
Perceptual Disorders
Metacognitive Deficits
Social-Emotional Problems
Memory Problems
Motor Disorders
Attention Problems and Hyperactivity

8. Prevalence of Learning Disabilities

9. Prevalence of Learning Disabilities

10. Gender Differences in LD
Medical Factors
Maturational Factors
Sociological Factors

11. Learning Disabilities Across Cultures
It is recognized that a student is likely to face learning difficulties when the customs or values of the school personnel differ from those of the student.
Learning problems are complicated further if the student has a learning disability or if the student’s primary language is different from the primary language of the school personnel.
It now is apparent that learning disabilities occur in all cultures and countries, and that there are capable individuals in all cultures and countries who have severe difficulties in learning oral language, reading, written expression, and mathematics.