Children with Learning Disability
From the Learning Disabilities Association of Texas
Consider the bright little boy who started first grade expecting to learn to read, but he didn’t. He couldn’t.
He has one kind of learning disability. His problem is dyslexia (difficulty learning to read), which can damage his performance in every other academic area. Fortunately, there is help. He can reach his potential if his problem is understood early and his educational program is individualized to accommodate his unique needs.
Through no fault of his own, a child like this has a disability. He needs special help, but because his disability cannot be seen, he often does not receive assistance. He wants to understand and tries to, but he fails. He cannot solve his perplexing problem — that takes informed parents and trained professionals. It is urgent to get the needed help before the child gives up.
Once the problem has been identified and appropriate interventions are implemented, the child can begin to help himself, to rebuild his fading self-esteem.
Parents Should Be Alert
From infancy, parents should be checking their child’s progress against the norms of his age group, using any good reference on child development. If there are continuing deviations, they should discuss them with a trusted professional. Most school districts have pre-primary evaluation and special education programs, if needed.
Learning disabilities should be considered as a possible cause if a child has difficulty with one or more of the following:
- thinking clearly
- remembering facts
- learning to read
- learning to compute
- putting things in sequence
- writing legibly
- spelling accurately
- following directions
- copying forms/shapes
- paying attention
Children with learning disabilities are often clumsy, impulsive, hyperactive or disoriented. They may become frustrated and rebellious, depressed, withdrawn or aggressive.
Baffled by their children’s problems, parents seek advice, but often in the wrong places. Even if they have reared other children who were academically successful and even if they are convinced that they, as parents, are experts in knowing their own children, self-confidence often vanishes. They feel helpless as they suffer along with their special child. The frustration felt by the parent and child may cause significant loss of self-esteem as years go by.
What Schools Provide and How to Get Involved
Public schools are required by law to provide persons with learning disabilities a free appropriate education and to include parents in the planning. Programs and services for persons with learning disabilities are mandated through high school age and beyond. School systems are to work in compliance with the law. Qualified professionals should be dedicated to careful diagnosis and quality intervention.
What Parents Can Do
- Become informed.
- Become involved in your child’s school program. Meet with the classroom teacher and request a student study team meeting. Write a letter to the school principal stating that your child may have a specific learning disability (SLD), and request a comprehensive evaluation, to be followed by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. Keep copies of all correspondence with the school and a record of the dates and contents of all telephone conversations. You legally have access to your child’s file at the school and may request copies of his/her records.
- Pinpoint the problem. Arrange for a thorough physical evaluation, including vision and hearing. Consider the need for assessment of receptive and/or expressive language problems and visual perception difficulties.
- Explain to your child honestly about learning disabilities in language that the child can understand. Don’t over-use the label. Emphasize areas of strength and areas where special help may be needed. Help your child understand that he or she has more similarities than differences with other children. Talk about famous people with learning disabilities. Encourage feedback, but allow the child to set the pace.
