Lake Como Learning Disabilities
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Learning disabilities
Focusing on strengths – learning disabilities
If your child has a problem reading, writing, doing math, grabbing things, or playing with other kids, she may have a learning disability. But don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world.
It just means that her brain is wired in a different way.
It means she may be able to do things that are hard for other kids, while she may not be able to do things that are simple for others. And it means she may have to work a little harder to get everyone else to know how smart and creative she really is. It also means that the whole family will need to chip in to help her learn.
Getting help
The first thing you want to do is have your child tested by a professional. Once you know that she has a disorder, you can look for ways to help her. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees services for children with disabilities all over the country.
If your child needs special education, request an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This program ensures that your child will be able to get the special education and tools she needs to succeed in school.
If she doesn’t qualify for an IEP, she may qualify for a 504 Plan, which also offers tools and support during her school years.
Here's a list of learning disorders:
Dyslexia affects listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling.
Dyscalculia affects math skills and concepts of time and money.
Dysgraphia affects writing and composition.
Dyspraxia affects balance and coordination, sense of touch and hearing.
Auditory Processing Disorder affects how a person processes what she hears.
Visual Processing Disorder affects how a person processes what she sees.
Executive Function Disorder affects how a child plans and organizes things and information, how she remembers details, and how she deals with past, present and future.
ADD/ADHD affects concentration and focus.
Autism affects how a child can express her feelings, communicate with others and make friends. Autism is a spectrum disorder. This means some children can be more seriously challenged than others. Autism is not a typical learning disability. It is a neuro-developmental disorder, or damage to the brain and nervous system.
What is a learning disability?
There are many types of learning disabilities. They are caused by a glitch in the way the brain handles language. This glitch affects how a child is able to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do math.
There are also disorders that can affect how:
A child handles information
Controls his movements
Organizes things
Feels and relates to other people
Learning disabilities last a lifetime. They don’t go away, but with the right education, tools and support, a child with a learning disability can grow up to lead a productive life.
What is NOT a learning disability?
Contrary to what people still think, a learning disability:
Cannot be cured and it is not something your child can grow out of
Doesn’t mean your child is not smart.
Doesn’t mean your child is lazy.
Doesn’t mean your child is mentally retarded.
Has nothing to do with vision or hearing problems and cannot be cured with glasses or hearing aids
Has nothing to do with culture, surroundings or how much money a person has
Focusing on the talents makes learning easier
When children with learning disabilities know how their minds work, they can teach others about it. And they can ask for the right tools to help them learn.
What’s more important, if there’s something they love to do, they can use that as a way to learn. If your child sees the world through pictures, for example, you could use art, drawings, or photographs to help her learn. If she likes baking or cooking, you could use recipes to help her solve math problems, and so on.
But don’t just stop there. Use your child’s talents to inspire her and give her the confidence she needs to know she can do whatever she sets her mind on doing, just like her more “normal” schoolmates. Studies have shown that people are more successful when they focus on their strong points, instead of their weak ones.
Contact us today!