Transcript Students with Learning Disabilities History, Definitions, and Characteristics

Students with Learning
Disabilities
History, Definitions, and Characteristics
Chapter Objectives
• Discuss the history of the development of the learning
disabilities field.
• Discuss current trends regarding the identification of
students with learning disabilities.
• Identify the components of the various definitions and
identification criteria of learning disabilities.
• List characteristics of students with learning disabilities.
• Discuss the prevalence of learning disabilities.
Understanding Disabilities:
A Historical Perspective
• Foundation Period (1800–1960)
• Emergent Period (1961–1974)
• Solidification Period (1975–1987)
• Turbulent Period (1988–Present)
Important Legislation Regarding
Learning Disabilities
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PL 91-230 Specific Learning Disabilities Act of 1969
PL 94-142 Education for All Handicapped Children Act
PL 98-199 Amended PL 94-142, IDEA
PL 99-457 Amended PL 94-142, 1986 addition to IDEA
PL 101-476 Reauthorization of IDEA
PL 102-119 Amended PL 101-476 to include children
birth to age 3
• New Legislation—2005
Definitions of Learning Disability
• Minimal Brain Dysfunction
• NACHC
• IDEA
• Definitions Used by State Departments of Education
• National Joint Committee on LD
• Association for Children with LD
• Interagency Committee on LD
Components of the IDEA
Definition
• Process Component
• Language Component
• Academic Component
• Neurological Component
• Exclusion Component
• Identification Component
Characteristics of Learning
Disabilities
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Discrepancy factor
Academic Learning Difficulty
Language Disorders
Perceptual Disorders
Metacognitive Deficits
Social-Emotional Problems
Memory Problems
Motor Disorders
Attention Problems and Hyperactivity
Prevalence of Learning Disabilities
Percentage of Children Served in Special Education by Category
LD
Sp/Lang
MR
ED
Multiple
Hearing
Orthopedic
Other Health
Visual
Prevalence of Learning Disabilities
Number of Students with LD
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161
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Gender Differences in LD
• Medical Factors
• Maturational Factors
• Sociological Factors
Learning Disabilities Across Cultures
• It is recognized that a student is likely to face learning difficulties
when the customs or values of the school personnel differ from
those of the student.
• Learning problems are complicated further if the student has a
learning disability or if the student’s primary language is different
from the primary language of the school personnel.
• It now is apparent that learning disabilities occur in all cultures
and countries, and that there are capable individuals in all
cultures and countries who have severe difficulties in learning
oral language, reading, written expression, and mathematics.