LEARNING DISABILITIES
A TEACHER’S GUIDE
,
,What is a Learning Disability?
WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY?
The definition of learning disability has varied over time, across jurisdictions and
among disciplines. In 2002, the Ministry of Education adopted the following
definition of learning disabilities, consistent with the definition adopted by
the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and the BC Association of
School Psychologists.
Learning Disabilities refer to a number of conditions that might affect the acquisition,
organization, retention, understanding or use of verbal or nonverbal information.
These disorders affect learning in individuals who otherwise demonstrate at least
average abilities essential for thinking and/or reasoning. As such, learning
disabilities are distinct from global intellectual disabilities.
Learning disabilities result from impairments in one or more processes related to
perceiving, thinking, remembering or learning. These include, but are not limited to
language processing, phonological processing, visual spatial processing, processing
speed, memory, attention and executive functions (e.g. planning and decision making).
Learning disabilities vary in severity and may interfere with the acquisition and use of
one or more of the following:
oral language (e.g., listening, speaking, understanding)
reading (e.g., decoding, phonetic knowledge, word recognition, comprehension)
written language (e.g., spelling and written expression)
mathematics (e.g., computation, problem solving)
Learning disabilities may also involve difficulties with organizational skills, social
perception, social interaction and perspective taking.
Learning disabilities are life-long. The way in which they are expressed may vary over
an individual’s lifetime, depending on the interaction between the demands of the
environment and the individual’s strengths and needs. Learning disabilities are
suggested by unexpected academic under-achievement or achievement that is
maintained only by unusually high levels of effort and support.
, What is a Learning Disability?
Learning disabilities are due to genetic and/or neurological factors or injury that alters
brain function in a manner that affects one or more processes relate to learning.
These disorders are not due primarily to hearing and/or vision problems, social-
economic factors, cultural or linguistic differences, lack of motivation, inadequate or
insufficient instruction, although these factors may further complicate the challenges
faced by individuals with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities may co-exist with
other disorders such as attention, behavioural or emotional disorders, sensory
impairments, or other medical conditions.
Learning disabilities can interfere with a student meeting his or her intellectual
and life potential. Learning disabilities result in unexpected academic
underachievement. Learning disabilities may impact the acquisition,
organization, understanding, retention and/or use of information.
Learning disabilities are complex and go beyond the stereotypical perceptions of
the disorder as simply reading difficulties, or letter reversals. They vary
considerably, both in terms of the functions they impact and the severity of
the impact experienced. The appropriate accommodations depend upon the
individual’s strengths as well as his/her specific difficulties.
Frequently, learning disabilities are not detected before children start school.
Many students with learning disabilities display no signs of difficulty, except
when they attempt the specific academic tasks that challenge their particular
area of cognitive processing difficulty.
Unlike many other disabilities, identifying a learning disability poses some
particular challenges since processing disorders are assessed through inference
based on student responses. It might not be obvious that a student’s
learning difficulties are due to a learning disability.
The specific needs of individuals with learning disabilities change and evolve
throughout their lifetime. This does not mean the disability no longer exists,
but by varying the activities they undertake and the strategies they develop
to address their particular learning disabilities, students may experience
different challenges at different times.
A TEACHER’S GUIDE
,
,What is a Learning Disability?
WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY?
The definition of learning disability has varied over time, across jurisdictions and
among disciplines. In 2002, the Ministry of Education adopted the following
definition of learning disabilities, consistent with the definition adopted by
the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and the BC Association of
School Psychologists.
Learning Disabilities refer to a number of conditions that might affect the acquisition,
organization, retention, understanding or use of verbal or nonverbal information.
These disorders affect learning in individuals who otherwise demonstrate at least
average abilities essential for thinking and/or reasoning. As such, learning
disabilities are distinct from global intellectual disabilities.
Learning disabilities result from impairments in one or more processes related to
perceiving, thinking, remembering or learning. These include, but are not limited to
language processing, phonological processing, visual spatial processing, processing
speed, memory, attention and executive functions (e.g. planning and decision making).
Learning disabilities vary in severity and may interfere with the acquisition and use of
one or more of the following:
oral language (e.g., listening, speaking, understanding)
reading (e.g., decoding, phonetic knowledge, word recognition, comprehension)
written language (e.g., spelling and written expression)
mathematics (e.g., computation, problem solving)
Learning disabilities may also involve difficulties with organizational skills, social
perception, social interaction and perspective taking.
Learning disabilities are life-long. The way in which they are expressed may vary over
an individual’s lifetime, depending on the interaction between the demands of the
environment and the individual’s strengths and needs. Learning disabilities are
suggested by unexpected academic under-achievement or achievement that is
maintained only by unusually high levels of effort and support.
, What is a Learning Disability?
Learning disabilities are due to genetic and/or neurological factors or injury that alters
brain function in a manner that affects one or more processes relate to learning.
These disorders are not due primarily to hearing and/or vision problems, social-
economic factors, cultural or linguistic differences, lack of motivation, inadequate or
insufficient instruction, although these factors may further complicate the challenges
faced by individuals with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities may co-exist with
other disorders such as attention, behavioural or emotional disorders, sensory
impairments, or other medical conditions.
Learning disabilities can interfere with a student meeting his or her intellectual
and life potential. Learning disabilities result in unexpected academic
underachievement. Learning disabilities may impact the acquisition,
organization, understanding, retention and/or use of information.
Learning disabilities are complex and go beyond the stereotypical perceptions of
the disorder as simply reading difficulties, or letter reversals. They vary
considerably, both in terms of the functions they impact and the severity of
the impact experienced. The appropriate accommodations depend upon the
individual’s strengths as well as his/her specific difficulties.
Frequently, learning disabilities are not detected before children start school.
Many students with learning disabilities display no signs of difficulty, except
when they attempt the specific academic tasks that challenge their particular
area of cognitive processing difficulty.
Unlike many other disabilities, identifying a learning disability poses some
particular challenges since processing disorders are assessed through inference
based on student responses. It might not be obvious that a student’s
learning difficulties are due to a learning disability.
The specific needs of individuals with learning disabilities change and evolve
throughout their lifetime. This does not mean the disability no longer exists,
but by varying the activities they undertake and the strategies they develop
to address their particular learning disabilities, students may experience
different challenges at different times.
