National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) Teleconference

November 21, 2003

Learning Disabilities & Hidden Disabilities

Presenter: Richard Allegra

• AHEAD Associate Executive Director-Information and Education

• 25 years in field of disability

• 13 years in disability services in higher education

• 1980’s worked in vocational training/supported employment field

Models of Disability

Medical Model

• Disability = deficiency/abnormality

• Being disabled is negative

• “Disability” is a “problem” that inherent in a person

• The remedy for disability-related issues is “cure”

• The agent of remedy is solely the professional

Social Model

• Disability = difference from average

• Being disabled, in itself, is neutral

• “Disability” derives from interaction between the person and society

• The remedy is changing the interaction between person and societal “constructs”

• The agent of remedy can be: the individual, an advocate, anyone who changes interaction

Gill, C. University of Illinois at Chicago

Learning Disability: Basic Elements

• Neurologically-based

• Intrinsic to the individual

• Persist across individual’s lifespan with varying levels of intensity

• Not due primarily to other disabling conditions

Source: Specific Learning Disabilities: Finding Common Ground. A report developed by organizations participating in the Learning Disabilities Roundtable 25 July 2002 (NCLD)

Learning Disability: Identification

Comprehensive evaluation required• Multiple sources:• Self-report• Observations by parents, teachers, others• Formal assessment• Informed clinical judgment

Ability-Achievement Discrepancy• Should not be sole identification source

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog

The Interview

Learning Disability: Working

Challenges

• Perception

• Skills

• Organization

• Attention

• Social Skills

• EmotionalRoffman, A. (2003) . Working with a learning disability. Presentation to Learning Disabilities Association conference. Chicago, IL

Learning Disability: Working

• Strengths

• Creative problem-solving

• Self-discipline

• Punctuality & Attendance

• Attitude

• Acceptance of criticism

• Dependability over time

Learning Disability: Trends

• Increase in multiple disabilities (LD/ADD/Psych)• Identification process• No Child Left Behind• Documentation & Role of informed clinical

judgment• LD in “bright” people (Bartlett case)• Increase in use of technology• Universal Design in Instruction

Block, L. and Lendman, C. (2003) Trends in learning disabilities: Embracing the future. Presentation to Learning Disabilities Association conference. Chicago, IL.

Useful Information Links

AHEAD www.ahead.org

National Center for Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov

ADA www.usdoj.gov

LD Info www.ldinfo.com

Dept of Education www.ed.gov

LD Online www.ldonline.org

Learning Disabilities Association www.ldanatl.org

CAST www.cast.org

ReadPlease www.readplease.com

Inspiration www.inspiration.com