In the United States, the term “learning disability” means a disorder in one or
more of the basic processes involved in understanding spoken or written language. Put
another way, it impedes the ability to store, process or produce information. It may show
up as a problem in a person's ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do
math, despite at least average intelligence.
The term “learning disabled” does not refer to people who have learning problems
which are primarily the result of visual, hearing or physical handicaps, mental
retardation, emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic
disadvantage. Learning disabilities can occur with or without problems in attention.
Common attention and learning disabilities include:
Attention Deficit Disorder
involves a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity to a greater degree than
expected developmentally, such symptoms must have been present prior to age 7, impairment
from the symptoms must be present in at least two settings, and there must be clear
evidence of interference with developmentally appropriate social, academic, and/or
occupational functioning. While many claim to be able to diagnose ADD, appropriate
diagnostic procedures involve at least all of the following: complete
history (including: developmental, school, occupational, and social), direct observations,
psychometric assessment, and clinical interview and does not simply
involve response to medication.
Auditory, Memory and
Processing Disability describes problems people have in understanding or
remembering words or sounds because their brains fail to understand language correctly.
This can often be mistaken by parents and doctors as a hearing problem but, in fact, an
individual with this disability is not able to process or memorize information.
Dyscalculia
causes people to have problems doing arithmetic and grasping mathematical concepts. While
many people have problems with math, a person with dyscalculia has a much more difficult
time solving basic math problems than his or her peers.
Dysgraphia is a writing
disorder that causes people to have difficulty forming letters or writing within a defined
space. People with this disorder need extra time and effort to write neatly. Despite
their efforts, their handwriting may be almost illegible.
Dyslexia is a reading disability
typified by problems in expressive or receptive, oral or written language. Problems may
emerge in reading, spelling, writing, speaking, or listening. People with dyslexia often
show talent in areas that require visual, spatial, and motor integration.
Hyperlexia is a syndrome
observed in children who have the following characteristics: precocious ability to read
words -- far above what would be expected at the chronological age -- or an intense
fascination with numbers or letters; significant difficulty understanding and using verbal
language or a significant nonverbal learning disability; difficulty in reciprocal
interaction.
Attention Deficit Disorder
The
American Academy of Ophthalmology has a variety of materials on
Learning Disabilities including "How should
learning disabilities be treated?" and a statement on
the ineffectiveness of Vision Therapy for learning disabilities on their website,
which states in part:: "However, regardless of the vision therapy method, NONE of
them have been proven to improve or correct learning disabilities. Many vision therapy
methods have no medical basis and can even cause a delay in getting children the
educational assistance they need. Children with learning disabilities benefit from
remedial exercises given by qualified educators in a one-to-one setting at school.
Learning disabilities are caused by the brain - not vision." In addition they
have a referral service and provide access to a variety of reference materials online.
C.H.A.D.D.
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (C.H.A.D.D.) was founded in
1987 in response to the frustration and sense of isolation experienced by parents and
their children with ADD. At that time, there were very few places one could turn to for
support or information and ADD was seriously misunderstood by many people. Indeed,
children and adults with ADD were often wrongly labeled a "behavior problem,"
"unmotivated," or "not intelligent enough" - and many clinicians and
educators knew little about ADD. CHADD is the nation's largest ADD organization and
has as its mission working to improve the lives of people with ADD.
LD OnLine
is a service of The Learning Project at WETA, Washington, D.C., in association with The
Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities. LD OnLine is made possible in part by
generous support from The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation and Web hosting service for LD
OnLine are contributed by MindSpring Enterprises.
The National Attention
Deficit Disorder Association..."is an organization built around the needs
of adults and young adults with ADD and ADHD. [They] seek to serve individuals with ADD,
as well as those who love, live with, teach, counsel, and treat those who do. ADDA is a
growing organization, built on a foundation of service to its members, the public, and the
professional community. ADDA is a nonprofit organization, staffed entirely by unpaid
volunteers."
The
National Library of Medicine maintains a web page on the diagnosis and treatment
of ADD/ADHD. The NLM is a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Dyslexia
The
International Dyslexia Association (IDA) (formerly The Orton Dyslexia Society)
is an international scientific and educational organization, incorporated in the U.S. as a
501(c)(3) non-profit (charity), dedicated to the study and treatment of dyslexia.
"The IDA was first established nearly 50 years ago to continue the pioneering work of
Dr. Samuel T. Orton, who was one of the first to identify dyslexia and its remediation.
...The IDA has been helping individuals with dyslexia, their families, teachers,
physicians, and researchers to better understand dyslexia. [They] work nationally
and locally on issues such as legislation, public awareness, research, public information,
and education. [They] collaborate with other learning disability organizations to increase
the public's understanding of learning disabilities. Like other non-profits, The IDA
relies heavily on our dedicated volunteers. In addition to being guided by an
all-volunteer National Board of Directors, many of [their] Branch Offices are staffed by
volunteers. The IDA also has a total of 45 Branches--43 in the United States, 1 in Canada
and 1 in Israel. In addition, [they] have at-large members in 36 other countries and
Provinces in Canada."
The National Library
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of The Library of
Congress administers a free library program of braille and recorded materials circulated
to eligible borrowers through a network of cooperating libraries. The NLS provides a Reference Circular on Learning
Disabilities: Organizations and Resources.
Renee's
Resources is a website offered by Renee M. Newman who is a special education
consultant on Dyscalculia and Dyslexia. Her WebPages have a variety of links to
resources for parents and students on these topics.
Teens Helping Teens
is "a web page designed by dyslexic teens - to help teens (And lots of others who
visit!)" that is run entirely by teens with LD and sponsored by the New York Branch
of the International Dyslexia Association. If you area student (or have a
teen) who feels alone because of a learning disability these pages will help you
understand that you are definitely NOT alone.
General Learning Disorder Sites
The
American Academy of Ophthalmology has a variety of materials on
Learning Disabilities including "How should
learning disabilities be treated?" and a statement on
the ineffectiveness of Vision Therapy for learning disabilities on their website,
which states in part:: "However, regardless of the vision therapy method, NONE of
them have been proven to improve or correct learning disabilities. Many vision therapy
methods have no medical basis and can even cause a delay in getting children the
educational assistance they need. Children with learning disabilities benefit from
remedial exercises given by qualified educators in a one-to-one setting at school.
Learning disabilities are caused by the brain - not vision." In addition they
have a referral service and provide access to a variety of reference materials online.
The American Library Association. and the Association of
Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies offer The
Public Libraries' Learning Disabilities Initiative, a website devoted to
bringing information about learning disabilities to the general public through libraries
while increasing public libraries' capacity to serve.
The Council for
Exceptional Children (CEC), a non-profit association that traces its history
back to Columbia Teachers College in 1922, "is the largest international professional
organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with
exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for
appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual
professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals
with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary
for effective professional practice." They have divisions on Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Communication Disorders, Visual
Impairments, Behavior Disorders, and Gifted among others.
The Council for
Learning Disabilities (CLD) is "an international organization of and for
professionals who represent diverse disciplines and who are committed to enhance the
education and lifespan development of individuals with learning disabilities. CLD
establishes standards of excellence and promotes innovative strategies for research and
practice through interdisciplinary collegiality, collaboration, and advocacy"
They provide an array of Information
Sheets on various topics relating to LD.
The Higher Education
National Software Archives (HENSA)" is a national service which benefits
the higher education and research community in the UK. It is funded by JISC, the Joint
Information Systems Committee of the Higher Education Funding Councils. It maintains
copies of electronic archives from all over the world, providing access to a wide range of
up-to-date software and other material which is available free of charge to anyone from
the UK Higher Education community. The service is designed to help two groups of
users, those using the UNIX operating system and those using PC's and microcomputers.
There is some overlap between the two branches of the service."
Internet Special
Education Resources (ISER) is a private organization founded by Karen
McLaughlin in Los Altos, California which states that it "hopes to provide a valuable
resource to parents and educators free of charge, while providing education professionals
the opportunity to offer their services to the special education community. Through
ISER, A parent can find a local education professional who will: accompany her
through the local school's IEP process; help to diagnosis her child's learning difficulty;
locate the best school for her child. A parent who is moving to a new town can contact
local professionals who can help make the transition smoother for a special needs
child."
LDResources
web pages are operated by Anne and Richard Wanderman and include a large assortment of web
links to organizations, information targeted at parents and children, and other articles
and essays. They offer an E-mail update feature to notify you of any updates to the
website.
Learning Disabilities
Association of America (LDA) is a national, non-profit organization whose stated
purpose is to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults of
normal or potentially normal intelligence who manifest disabilities of a perceptual,
conceptual, or coordinative nature. LDA seeks to accomplish this through advocacy,
education, research and service, and through collaborative efforts. LDA has 50 state affiliates and more than 600
local chapters in 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
Learning
Disabilities Association of Canada (Troubles d' Apprentissage- Association
Canadienne) offers information in both English and French. "The LDAC is a
national, non-profit voluntary organization which was founded in 1963 and incorporated in
1971. It is dedicated to advance the education, employment, social development, legal
rights and general well-being of people with learning disabilities. The approximate
membership is 10,000. Although the majority are parents, a good proportion of the
membership includes physicians, psychologists, lawyers, language experts, optometrists,
psychiatrists, public health and physical education personnel, educators, and members of
school boards and administrators. There is a Learning Disabilities Association in
each province and territory of Canada and from these extends a network of chapters in more
than 140 communities across the country. These Associations are affiliated with the
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and share the same aims and objectives."
National Center for
Learning Disabilities, Inc. (NCLD) is a not-for-profit organization committed to
improving the lives of those affected by learning disabilities and "provides, free of
charge, the latest information on learning disabilities and resources available in
communities nationwide to parents, professionals and adults with learning disabilities.
Thousands of requests are handled each year for specific information on learning
disabilities, as well as local referrals to schools, clinics, camps, colleges, parent
support groups, and other sources of help."
The National
Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) is the
national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and
disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. They focus on
the needs of children and youth (birth to age 22). The NICHCY information is also
available in Spanish: El Centro Nacional de
Información para Niños y Jóvenes con Discapacidades.
The National Institute
for Literacy The U.S. "National Literacy Act of 1991 charged the NIFL with
the task of pulling together a rich but fragmented field and improving communication and
information exchange nationwide.... In early 1994, the NIFL formed eight working groups
from throughout the literacy community to develop standards for creating a national
system. ....This site became the first and central contact point for nationwide
information exchange about literacy, and we called it LINCS (Literacy Information aNd
Communication System)."
The U.S. National
Institute of Mental Health offers a booklet on Learning Disorders
designed to help the parent of a child with basics on what LDs are, what causes them, how
are they treated, and what does the U.S. government offer.
Hyperlexia
The
American Hyperlexia Association is a not-for-profit organization that offers
assistance and advocacy to parents and students. "Hyperlexia is a syndrome
observed in children who have the following characteristics: precocious ability to read
words -- far above what would be expected at the chronological age -- or an intense
fascination with numbers or letters; significant difficulty understanding and using verbal
language or a significant nonverbal learning disability; difficulty in reciprocal
interaction."
The Canadian
Hyperlexia Association is a not-for-profit association of concerned parents and
professionals who have incorporated in the province of Ontario. It is their stated
"mission to: Foster awareness of the syndrome of hyperlexia across Canada;
Provide information relating to the observable characteristics of hyperlexia; Collect,
disseminate and share information, practical strategies, and resources regarding
hyperlexia; Provide opportunities for parents, children and professionals to network;
Acknowledge the value of appropriate, early and on-going intervention."
Speech-Language Disorders
American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association "is the professional, scientific,
and credentialing association for more than 96,000 audiologists, speech-language
pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Their site is a resource for
ASHA members, persons interested in information about communication disorders, and for
those wanting career and membership information. The mission of the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association is to promote the interests of and provide the highest
quality services for professionals in audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech and
hearing science, and to advocate for people with communication disabilities.
Communication
Disorders Health Guide is a private-for-profit site run by SpeechPathology.Com,
Inc. "where individuals can find information about specific conditions, products,
professionals and support groups all related to communication disorders."
"Communication Disorders Health Guide is designed to provide three major components
to
its readers: A publication which delivers interactive education and advocacy; A reference
resource and link for students and professionals, and An electronic consumer guide,
catalog and mercantile."
Speech
Research on the Net is a self-expanding directory of speech research and
technology on the web. This resource has sections on: Language and Memory, Speech
Physiology and Acoustics, Hearing and Perception, Speech and Speaker Recognition, Speech
and Audio Analysis, and Compression Speech Synthesis.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has a division The National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders (NIDCD) that provides a consumer health information page on
hearing in infants and toddlers that is VERY useful for the concerned (or scared)
parent who thinks their child may be having a hearing or serious attention problem.
Learning Disorders 
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