Understanding Learning Disabilities | Origin: ED132
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities --> Understanding Learning Disabilities
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
It's important to come into a situation with the mindset that students with disabilities can learn. They just learn differently than other students and needs to be accommodated to suit their needs. Offering alternate methods of instruction, or supporting students where they have needs will give them the best chances of success.
There are so many different kinds of disabilities and there is not a test to take to diagnose. It is through the cooperation of many people that a diagnosis is made
Additional support and accommodations are needed for students with learning disabilities. Being a teacher requires us to be patient while giving precise instructions and allowing more time to complete assignments if needed. These factors that I use in the classroom now have helped some students learn and be more successful.
Important to understand the types of Disabilities you are working with whether identified previously in early grade school or later.
It is interesting how there is virtually no obgligation by any school to identify and accommodate students with learning disabilities. It appears the onus is on the student.
This was definitely a eye opener for me. As I think about my experience in classroom, I understand that there are many different forms of disabilities that I may have seen. I think the key is when we have a experience with a disability to find ways to help the student to gain confidence.
This module was an eye opener on how learning disabilites. like dyslexia, dyscaculia or dyspraxia are hidden processing differences. not a reflection of a stdents's potential or work ethic. learning how my students take in information lets me tweak my teaching on the spot.
I learned the difference between a disorder and a disability. Also, many students have learning disabilities that go unnoticed and interpreted as a student that doesn't want to learn. As instructors we must pay attention to all students and find out who needs extra help or accommodations.
I learned the diffrence between dyscalculia and dysgraphia
It is very important to understand waht a student needs
I have learned a lot. I have learned the differences between learning disabilities and Disorders. Some disorders are associated with learning disabilities, but are not learning disabilities.
As an educators we should be observant as to the disabilities and disorders to work with the learner.
I was amazed to know that there is around 60% of people with undetected or an undiagnosed learning disability. It is important to include students in their learning plans in order to formulate a plan that works for them and allows the appropriate accommodations to support them.
I didn't realize the characteristics listed were signs of learning disabilities. My students struggle with memorizing information and note taking so I believe it would be helpful to teach students how to do study and retain information.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned from this module is that learning disabilities are not about intelligence, but about how students process information. This really changed my perspective as an educator. I now understand that students may struggle with input, memory, organization, or output, and those challenges can show up in different ways like reading difficulties, poor note-taking, or trouble following directions.
I also learned that learning disabilities are often “hidden,” meaning you may not immediately recognize them until a student begins struggling with tasks like reading, writing, or completing assignments. This makes it even more important for instructors to be aware of the signs, such as short attention spans, disorganization, or difficulty with sequencing and memory. Understanding these characteristics allows me to be more intentional in how I support my students.
Another key takeaway is that learning disabilities vary from student to student, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some students may struggle with processing information, while others may have difficulty retrieving or organizing it. This reinforced the importance of flexibility in instruction and the need to use multiple teaching strategies to reach all learners.
Moving forward, I plan to apply this knowledge by being more observant and responsive to my students’ needs. I will provide clear instructions, break down complex tasks, and incorporate different teaching methods to support various learning styles. I also want to create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable asking for help and are not discouraged by their challenges. Overall, this module has helped me become more aware, patient, and intentional in supporting all learners.
I did not realize how many different learning abilities there is. Being unable to just have problems with letters or just numbers.
I learned that learning disabilities are neurologically based, lifelong, and often hidden, making identification challenging. I also learned how varied they are and how frequently they coexist with conditions like ADHD. I will apply this knowledge by being more intentional in offering flexible instruction, accommodations, and multiple ways for students to demonstrate learning, while recognizing and valuing their strengths, especially creativity and problem-solving skills.
Dyslexia affects how a student learns to read, but it does not show how smart they are or how far they can go with the right tools.
This helped me understand that students may also have a specific learning disability combined with a behavioral diagnosis such as ADHD or ADD.
Students with disabilities have differences in the way they learn or communicate.
