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Learning disabilities are manifested by significant difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, and/or mathematical ability. The primary problems do not involve collecting information (as in sensory disabilities), but in interpreting, translating, or recalling information. Learning disabilities are intrinsic to the person, presumed to be due to central nervous system dysfunction, and may occur throughout a person’s lifespan. Learning disabilities range from mild to very severe.
People with learning disabilities often have trouble learning sequences of tasks. This difficulty is sometimes mistaken for carelessness or lower intelligence. However, learning disabilities do not denote inferior intelligence. In fact, a majority of individuals with learning disabilities have normal intelligence and are fully capable of performing complex tasks that are not impeded by their disabilities. Alternative teaching strategies can help people with learning disabilities learn to adapt and perform at academic levels comparable to their peers.
Suggestions to Improve Access and Positive Interactions
- Be aware that occasional inattentiveness, distraction, or loss of eye contact by a person with a learning disability is not unusual.
- When communicating with a person with a learning disability, discuss openly the preferred way to communicate.
- Be sensitive to the fact that some information processing problems may affect social skills.
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