Introduction to Exceptionalities

Specific Learning Disabilities

An Overview of Disabilities

Assignments

• Take the Myth/Fact quiz about learning disabilities

• Report how you did on the quiz • Watch the video about Dyslexia and write a 3-4

sentence response about the video• Complete the Venn diagram about the specific

learning disabilities • Print out this PowerPoint to hand in with your

assignments and create a folder

What do you know about learning disabilities?

• Click on the link below and take the quiz. Report how you did.

• Learning Disabilities: Fact/Myth Quiz

WHAT ARE LEARNING DISABILITIES?

Learning Disability (LD) is more than a “difference” or “difficulty” with learning—it’s a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store and respond to information. LD will vary in how it impacts each individual child, adolescent and adult. Understanding the basic facts will enable you to help yourself, your child, or someone you know to be a well-informed and effective advocate.

(NCLD, 2013)

WHAT CAUSES LEARNING DISABILITIES?

• “There is still no proven cause of learning disabilities (LD), there is knowledge related to what causes LD. Here are three things that could cause LD. (NCLD, 2013)”– Heredity– Problems during pregnancy and birth– Incidents after birth

LEARNING DISABILITIES ARE NOT CAUSED BY…

• Economic disadvantage• Cultural differences• Lack of educational opportunity

(NCLD, 2013)

TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES

• Dyslexia• Dyscalculia• Dysgraphia• Dyspraxia• Executive Functioning• ADHD & Other Related Issues

DYSLEXIA

• Lifelong challenge• Language-based processing disorder– Reading– Writing– Spelling– Speaking“…neurological disorder that causes their brain to process and interpret information differently (NCLD, 2013)”

WATCH THIS VIDEO

DYSCALCULIA

• Lifelong learning disabilities involving math • No single type of math disability • Varies from person to person• Affects people differently at various stages of

life• Strategies and accommodations to help those

with dyscalculia

DYSGRAPHIA

• Learning disability that affects writing– Spelling– Poor handwriting– Translating thoughts to paperMight struggle with:– Organization of numbers and words on a line or

page

DYSPRAXIA

• A disorder that affects motor skill development– Fine motor tasks• Waving good bye• Brushing teeth“DYSPRAXIA IS NOT A LEARNING DISABILITY (LD) BUT OFTEN COEXTIZTS WITH OTHER LDS AND CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT LEARNING NCLD, 20”

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING

• “A set of mental processes that helps connect past experience with present action”

• People with LD struggle with executive function:– Planning– Organizing– Strategizing– Remembering details– Managing time and space