ALTERNATIVE LEARNERS

Learning Disabilities and Learning Difficulties

Learning Disabilities and learning difficulties are neurologically-based disorders that impact the brain’s ability to store, process, and communicate information. Essentially, youngsters with Learning Disabilities have different “wiring” systems in their brains that often make tasks such as reading, writing, spelling, doing mathematics, and remembering information more difficult for them. Many individuals experience a specific Learning Disability in an area such as reading but might not display learning issues in other areas. 

Approximately 15% of students have an identified Learning Disability. There are also many other children who experience learning difficulties who may struggle in a particular educational area such as reading or writing. Predominantly, they experience difficulties in language-based issues and often receive additional assistance in the area of reading or speech. With appropriate intervention, children with learning disabilities can be extremely successful and often have highly-developed compensatory strengths in other areas of functioning

Children with Learning Disabilities inevitably struggle with one or more executive functions.  Particularly prominent are difficulties with working memory, which results in problems in following directions, reading comprehension, or performing calculations.  Many youngsters with Learning Disabilities experience problems organizing and expressing their thoughts effectively and display executive dysfunctions in the areas of planning and setting goals. Unfortunately, Learning Disabilities can also have a significant impact upon children’s sense of self-esteem and result in a dislike of school or anxiety regarding their performance. These students may be unable to display their numerous compensatory strengths in the school setting and may become averse to learning in general.

Traditional strategies to address Learning Disabilities and learning difficulties include involvement with an Individual Education Plan or a 504 Plan, use of specialized training for the specific Learning Disability, or accommodations such as reduction in the size of assignments or presentation of material in a different format.

Strategies for helping youngsters with Learning Disabilities through digital technologies fall broadly into the category of assistive technology.  The use of computers for helping with writing assignments or text to speech software where the computer reads the text aloud can be very helpful. The use of calculators to help with mathematical calculations, spell check programs to help with spelling concerns, and audio books to help support reading comprehension can be helpful. 

In addition, there are a number of other uses of digital technology to enhance the underlying executive function skills that contribute to learning disabilities. For example, working memory training programs are being studied to determine their effectiveness in enhancing reading comprehension. Video games that develop faster processing speed may be helpful in verbal fluency and in reading speed.

Digital Technologies and Strategies:

Learning Disabilities and Learning Difficulties Digital Technology List

• Keyboards for the classroom, including tools such as laptop computer or an Office Smart
• Voice recognition systems such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, Franklin Spell
  
  Strategies to increase visual processing, including:

• Cogmed Working Memory training
• Dance, Dance Revolution
• Kurzwell 3000
• Franklin Speller
• Computer software for reading, such as:
• Reader Rabbit
• Reading Blaster