Introduction to Learning Disabilities | Origin: ED132
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Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities --> Introduction to Learning Disabilities
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According to the text, about 10 percent of individuals have learning disabilities. In my experience, teachers have limited knowledge of how to work with students disabilities. Understanding learning disabilities can help teachers meet the individual needs of students.
Students with a learning disability need support not a crutch to assist in accomplishing and successfully completing classroom assignments.
As a newish teacher who mainly facilitates students, having a student with a major learning disability this year has been challenging. Add to that, she was not school for several months, she also has social anxiety and appears to have some other challenges that the admin is working on at this time.
1. Everyone Has Strengths and Challenges
While some students have diagnosed learning disabilities, all people have areas where learning or performance is more difficult.
For example, one student may struggle with reading, another with math, and another with organization or attention. These are all differences in how our brains process information, not measures of intelligence or worth.
2. Emphasize Ability, Not Limitation
Students with learning disabilities often have unique strengths, like creativity, problem-solving, or strong verbal skills.
By recognizing that everyone has learning differences, you can create a classroom culture where diversity in thinking and learning is valued.
3. Foster Empathy and Inclusion
Framing disabilities as a natural part of human diversity encourages students to be supportive of one another.
It also helps students with LD feel less stigmatized, because they see that struggling in some areas is normal for everyone.
4. Teaching Implications
Use differentiated instruction to meet students where they are.
Offer multiple ways to access content (visual, auditory, hands-on).
Encourage peer collaboration, because students can learn from each other’s strengths.
I have several students in my classroom with learning disabilities. It seems to be more and more each year. For me, it's important to remember that those students did not choose to have that disability, and they want to learn like their peers. Patience and understanding and encouragement go a long way!
I have to say that I have been one of those students that was left behind and fully understand the issue. I now can see that just one small step missed can hurt someone a lifetime.
Students with learning disabilities require support. I didn't know about the different stages.
Learning disabilities is not just one disability and we need to be aware of any disabilities our students may have. Reading comprehension is so important at an early age. If the students have any disabilities it is important we remember they most likely want to learn and we need to be there to help them achieve their goals.
This module reminded me that learning disabilities are complex and unique for every individual and having a learning disability doesn’t mean someone lacks intelligence. It simply means they process information differently. It was also interesting to see how much history and research has gone into identifying and supporting these learners. Moving forward, I plan to be more intentional about recognizing different learning needs in my classroom and using strategies that help every student feel capable and supported.
Awareness of learning disabilities has grown over the years as more research and information has been made available to the public
I was unaware of how reading develops. It is very interesting to look back and see the different stages as my own children learned how to recognize letters and sounds. I can now look at those students in my classroom and understand that may not have progressed through each stage.
I learned that students with disabilities tend to not have motivation and face many challenges.
What I learned in this module is to truly grasp the challenges faced by students with learning disabilities, it's important to understand how typical reading development occurs.
I've learned about reading disabilities and how it affects the lifelong learning process. I enjoyed learning about the strategies to assist those learners.
I learned about the process of learning to read and the challenges faced by students with disabilities in this area.
I learned that all disabilities don't look the same.
This helped me have a better understanding of the reading disabilities.
I learned that there are different types of learning disabilities. I also learned about different reading levels and that people often struggle throughout their life with their learning disabilities.
I'm surprised the percentage of people that have a learning disability.
