Specific Learning Disabilities
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Specific Learning Disabilities
Part One
Disability Components According to IDEA Students with specific learning disabilities usually have challenges in acquiring reading and language skills. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a child may be determined to have specific learning disability only if he/she is found to have a discrepancy in oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, basic reading skill, reading comprehension, and reading fluency skills (Kranzler, & Floyd, 2013). Therefore, according to the IDEA (2004), it is important for special education teachers and administrators, as well as regular
…show more content…
The third disability component according to IDEA is reading fluency. Reading fluency is the ability of the student to recognize and express text accurately, rapidly, and quickly with very little attention paid to the appearance of the word (Wendling, & Mather, 2013). Fluency is an important component in reading as it acts as the bridge between the recognition and comprehension of words. The ability to read fluently is one of the primary objective of elementary students (Swanson, Harris, & Graham, 2014). Those who, despite considerable instruction, cannot read fluently have learning disability and should therefore be assisted. Oral expression, on the flip side, is the ability of a student to express personal needs, ideas, and thoughts in a meaningful manner using various language structures. Many people confuse oral expression with reading fluently or reading out loud but these are all very distinct components. Oral expression is an important component of learning as it is a primary means through which students participate in all subjects. Listening comprehension and written expression are the last two disability components. Listening comprehension is the ability of a student to remember and comprehend information that has been presented orally. It is a broad concept that encompasses many different processes that are utilized by individuals in making sense of, and
“Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage” (Special Education Guide, 2017).
In the United States today, 38% of children in the fourth grade have been recognized as reading way below the level of their peers. Many of these children are identified with a learning disability and receive remedial instruction in the resource rooms. (Aaron, P. G., Joshi, R., Gooden, R., & Rentum, K. E.)
The two options for identifying students with disabilities are RTI model and the IQ-Achievement discrepancy model. The RTI model is a multi-tiered approach to identifying students with disabilities. With this approach the amount of students who are identified as having a learning disability has decreased because of the support students receive at different tiers and it eliminates inadequate instruction as the reason for reading problems. Universal screening and high quality teaching is done for all students. Students who show that they need additional help receive tier 1 services where frequency and intensity increases. Students are monitored and receive research based instruction in the general education classroom. Some students may still struggle and have to receive more intensive and frequent service. Those students will receive supplemental support from an educational professional. Tier 3 services are provided to students who still struggle and need even more intensive service. Students may also qualify for special education services. The IQ-Achievement discrepancy model is used to determine if a disability is present. Standardized tests are used to eliminate low intellectual ablity as a determining cause for reading problems. With this model, a professional assess whether there is a discrepancy between a student’s scores on an iq test and scores obtained from areas
There are many different types of learning disabilities; the most common ones are dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. (Jerome Rosner. –third ed. 1)
IDEA defines a learning disability as a disorder in understanding or using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations. Learning disabilities are a life-long issue. Language problems that go untreated in the early years of school can continue into high school and adulthood. As a child who suffered with an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), early intervention was very important for me to progress in school. I continue to this day, to utilize and build on compensatory techniques taught by my grade school Speech Pathologist. Henceforth, I have been able to succeed in school, social settings and now in college.
Helping Children with Learning Disabilities Understand What They Read is an article by Regina G. Richards. Her article discusses the basic strategies and techniques that can be used for students with learning disabilities. The article states, a key component of comprehension is that the student must be actively
In a research study done by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, schools, districts and states were studied to look for a structured process that could be most effective in discovering whether an English Language Learner might have a learning disability or just difficulty acquiring the language. Two factors were identified that lead to inconsistent identification of students who may have a learning disability. Those factors are lack of understanding among teachers about why English language learning students are not progressing and meeting academic benchmarks and the referral process into special education.
Under IDEA (2004), Disproportionality continues to exist in several categories listed, especially the categories of the Specific Learning Disability (SLD), Emotional Disturbance (ED), and Intellectual Disability (ID) ,(Gamm, 2007). Disproportionality is defined as the “overrepresentation” and “under-representation” of a particular population or demographic group in special or gifted education programs relative to the presence of this group in the overall student population (National Association for Bilingual Education, 2002). So many factors are responsible for this disproportionality, but the key factors, as apparent from researchers are; (1) gender difference, (2) overrepresentation of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse CLD population, (3) unsuccessful teaching approaches, (4) poor classroom management skills, and (5) assessment policies and practices.
Reading, writing, and speaking is difficult for many people. In honest opinion, these subjects are hard for me. So, imagine the struggles for those students that have a learning disability and those who are learning English. Luckily, I attended a session at the LDA conference that promoted tips and strategies to help students with these subjects. Moreover, how to help both ELL students and students with learning disabilities access these curriculums. Session W32 by Linda Tilton showed me how to help students get organized and become active learners. Not only that, but how to give high interest review strategies to reinforce vocabulary, reading, and writing. As Linda stated, “These are the nuts and bolts to take back and use!” For example, she
3) Speech or language impairments - includes communication disorders, language impairments, voice impairments that adversely affects educational performance. (Schwab Learning)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines a speech or language impairment as a “communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, oral motor disorders, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.” A speech impairment involves a person 's physical ability to correctly produce the sounds needed in speech. A language impairment involves an inability to process language receptively or expressively.
While Heather’s oral language is appropriate when she is engaged in a conversation and when she’s listening to a text being read to her, her understanding of what she reads is affected by her inability to analyze words. Hence, this is the reason why she would have difficulties with the component “reading ability for word problems”. For example, if she
Students with disabilities are at a higher at-risk for dropping out of high school at a greater rate than typically developing peers (Pyle & Wexler, 2012). Students with identified disabilities are required to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) according to law, and these students have unique needs that general education curriculum cannot meet on its own. However, there is abundant research that discusses various literacy interventions and strategies that can be effective. These interventions can be used in a school setting by any certified teacher (regular education or special education). This literature review will discuss some of the various reading and writing strategies as well as best practices for literacy in order to ensure students with disabilities are given the best chance for success. By providing timely interventions, monitoring progress, and analyzing data, it can be possible to increase achievement for those students with identified disabilities.
Growing, developing and learning are the facts of life for all children. Each day children are faced with many new concepts and various challenges. Can you imagine how it feels for a child to face not only new challenges life has, but to face these challenges while living with a learning disability? These challenges are met not just when they begin school either. Students suffer from learning disabilities from the moment they begin learning, not when they start school. Learning disabilities are real and they affect millions of people. “One such disability that affects over approximately 15 percent of the total American population is dyslexia” ( Nosek 5).
Of the three previously mentioned diseases, Dyslexia impairs a person’s ability to read, write, and spell (NINDS 2003). Although they are of normal intelligence, their reading level is below average. They will usually have “trouble with phonological processing (the manipulation of sounds) and/or rapid visual-verbal responding.” (NINDS 2003). Children with dyslexia complain they cannot read their textbooks, do not have enough time to finish tests, cannot take notes, and are unable to read their own handwriting (GVSU 2000). Dyslexia does not affect every person the same way, and signs of the disorder may not be prevalent until later, when grammar and more in-depth writing skills are introduced. Dyslexia can also create a difficulty in processing vocabulary and thoughts correctly when speaking, and understanding what one says when they are spoken to. Dysgraphia is another neurological disorder that focuses on writing. When a child with this disorder is first introduced to writing, they will make unnecessary spaces between their letters, and some letters will be