Page 109 - Keys To Community College Success

HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY AND MANAGE
learning disabilities?

Some learning disabilities cause reading problems, some produce difficulties in
math, some cause issues that arise when working with others, and some make it diffi-
cult for students to process the language they hear. The following will help you under-
stand learning disabilities as well as the tools people use to manage them.

Identifying a Learning Disability
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) states that learning
disabilities: 8
■ Are neurological disorders that interfere with one’s ability to store, process, and
produce information
■ Do not including mental retardation, autism, behavioral disorders, impaired vision,
hearing loss, or other physical disabilities
■ Do not include attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disor-
der, although these problems may accompany learning disabilities 9
■ Often run in families and are lifelong conditions, although specific strategies
can help people with learning disabilities manage and even overcome areas of
challenge
How can you determine whether you should be evaluated for a learning disability?
According to the NCLD, persistent problems in any of the following areas may indicate
a problem: 10
■ Reading or reading comprehension
■ Math calculations or understanding language and abstract concepts
■ Social skills or interpreting social cues
■ Following a schedule, being on time, meeting deadlines
■ Reading or following maps
■ Balancing a checkbook
■ Following directions, especially on multi-step tasks
■ Understanding spoken language
■ Writing, sentence structure, spelling, and organizing written work
Details on specific learning disabilities appear in Key 3.8. For an evaluation, con-
tact your school’s learning center, disability office, or student health center for a refer-
ral to a licensed professional. A professional diagnosis is required for a person with
learning disabilities to receive federally funded aid.

Managing a Learning Disability

If you are diagnosed with a learning disability, valuable information is available—
information Joyce never know about until she entered graduate school. Maximize your
ability to learn by learning about and managing your disability.
■ Find information about your disability. Search the library and the Internet—try
NCLD at www.ncld.org or LD Online at www.ldonline.org or call NCLD at
1–888–575–7373. If you have an individualized education program (IEP) (a docu-
ment describing your disability and recommended strategies) read it and make sure Learning How You Learn
you understand it.

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