Thank you for
your interest in learning about learning disabilities. The
term is a relatively new one on education's evolutionary spectrum,
with widespread acceptance beginning in the 1970's. As our
knowledge of learning disabilities grows, so too does our ability to
identify it and provide educational opportunities to overcome its
negative impact on a student's performance. Thus, the numbers
of students with learning disabilities who are attempting
postsecondary education continue to grow, with recent estimates for
freshmen entering a four-year institution at 7 to 10%. That
number is greater for students entering community college, so
chances are highly likely they will be enrolled in your classes.
The term learning
disability is an unfortunate one, as it carries with it all the
stigma inherent in the word disability. Many people think it
means the student is unable to learn. Newly diagnosed students
are ashamed at the thought that there is something wrong with them.
A more suitable
term would be learning difference. Students with learning
disabilities do have difficulties with academic achievement, but
they are on the bell curve of all learners.
Your willingness
to increase your awareness of learning disabilities is a step toward
reducing misconceptions and unfair treatment of this worthy
population of learners. Hopefully, greater understanding on
all of our parts will lead to greater tolerance of learning
diversity.
So let's begin,
shall we?
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