Yes, it’s time to celebrate Halloween, but did you know that October is also learning disability awareness month? It is never too late to celebrate advocacy. 3.2% of children in Canada have learning disabilities, and everyone one of them must receive an adequate amount of accommodation so they can thrive in all areas of life. No child deserves to be left behind without these accommodations. Students can fall behind, and retaining jobs and doing well in school can become difficult. This is why October is a special opportunity for all educational and professional environments to welcome all types of learning.
So let’s dive into the basics: what exactly is a learning disability?
Learning disability is referred to as disorders in different psychological processes that affect how language is understood and used, affecting how information is received, processed, recalled and communicated.
Some of the different types of learning disabilities
An LD reading is also commonly referred to as:
( Dyslexia)
Dyslexia is an LD that affects how your brain processes written information due to problems identifying speech sounds and how they relate to letters and words, also defined as decoding. It is not just a difficulty in reading words, but how you process, understand, and retain what you have read.
An LD in math is also commonly referred to as:
( Dyscalculia)
Dyscalculia is an LD that affects a person’s ability to understand work with numbers and Concepts. It is not just a difficulty with counting, but a condition that makes it harder to conceptualize math-related material, theories, problems and calculations. This could develop into challenges in the areas of measuring, estimating, counting money and understanding patterns.
An LD in writing is also commonly referred to as
( Dysgraphia)
Dysgraphia is an LD that primarily affects someone’s handwriting, manifesting difficulties and spacing of letter, and overall legibility. It is not just the way someone writes or the quality of their writing, but it is also a difficulty in editing and organizing written work. These are usually due to a weakness and motor skills, hand movements and the writing process.
So it is important to note…
None of these differences in any four measures is an individual’s intellectual capacity or linked to one’s IQ. The idea of an LD implying lower intelligence is a myth that can be extremely destructive to one’s self-esteem and cause a lack of support for someone’s learning needs.
Intervention is crucial so that youth can demonstrate their true intelligence and not just in the classroom but in all areas of life.
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