Dr. Shank’s This and ThatLearning DisabilitiesReturn to: Text and Image Home | Text Home| About Dr. Shank | Feedback| Text ADD | Text UDL | Text LD | Text and Image LD| Academic and Social Resources | Text Pet Therapy | Text PBS| Text Single Parent of Child with Disability | Text WV | Text WritingFinding Order in SpaghettiMy father’s boss once told me that Dad could find order in a bowl of spaghetti. That’s the kind of skill required for researchers to decode the mystery of learning disabilities. First they must find order in the brain—how the spaghetti-like neural pathways function; then, they have to find disorders in those pathways that could cause learning disabilities. (Have you seen pictures of brain neurons? If it’s been a while, click here. ) Obviously, doing so has proven challenging. Researchers have only had access to brain imaging since the early 1960’s. Although imaging has improved considerably since then, we still search for answers. For those of you who don’t know, a student is identified with a learning disability when they have the intelligence for reading, writing, and math, but they can’t master one or more of these skills at the expected level, despite receiving typical instruction in school. I’m often clued in that a student might have an unidentified learning disability when I hear a teacher comment, “She’s just not trying.” That comment suggests the teacher recognizes the student’s intelligence but is perplexed as to why the student isn’t performing as expected. Unfortunately, the victim is often blamed for being lazy or obstinate. When LD became recognized as a field in the late 1960’s, early definitions emphasized a neurological component. We had to take that aspect of the definition by faith, although it was a logical assumption based on the characteristics of these students. We made numerous mistakes over the years in our attempts as a field to “cure” learning disabilities. I remember when we emphasized perceptual motor training back in the 70’s. A grandmother volunteered to work with my students on turning somersaults and walking a balance beam to improve their reading. (Yes, she turned somersaults with them.) By the way, I’m sorry, former students, if any of you stumble onto this page. I wish I had known more then about how to help. Well, at least you probably found it entertaining.) The good news is that we have more answers than we did in those early days. Thanks to research in the 1990’s, by Dr. Sally Shawitz and her multidisciplinary team at Yale University, we now know through brain imaging that students with dyslexia often have difficulty with phonological awareness—being able to hear isolated sounds in words. That’s why if you ask a child with a reading disability how many sounds they hear in cat, they frequently reply “one” instead of “three.” We educators were spending scads of time teaching kids to identify the sounds letters make, but if they didn’t understand that words were made up of these individual sounds, we were only adding to their confusion. The wonderful news is that the brain can be rewired for phonological awareness. Many current reading programs apply Sally Shawitz’s work. Thanks to some of these programs, adults with dyslexia are now learning to read for the first time. Students who receive this instruction often develop reading skills that would be expected for their intelligence. Questions about LD remain unanswered. Dyslexia is only one type of learning disability and, in some cases, may have causes other than deficits in phonological awareness. Other types of LD also need further research, including nonverbal learning disabilities. Along with looking for causes and treatments, the field continues to explore new ways of identifying students who need support programs. We’re not finished sorting through that bowl of spaghetti yet! — Marilyn LinksChildhood Learning Disabilities If you are new to the field of learning disabilities, this website provides the basics with clear explanations and case studies. LD Online is an excellent resource for parents and teachers. Find articles or search the store, They even have a section of their website that’s devoted to kids. The purpose of this site is to serve as a “parents’ guide to helping kids with learning difficulties.” Along with articles, you will find stories from parents and a message board. Rick Lavoie is a popular speaker in the field of learning disabilities and is the author of several informative books. You can sign up for a free subscription to his podcast on this website. Rick’s DVD’s are available from PBS. Many researchers are beginning to distinguish between verbal learning disabilities and nonverbal learning disabilities. Students with nonverbal learning disabilities may have no difficulties with reading or may have hyperlexia, meaning they can sight read well but have poor comprehension. This website provides resources. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Association The association provides support information, an annual symposium, an online forum, and research articles. Learning Disabilities (LD) Adaptations/Accommodations Guide What adaptations and accommodations might someone with LD need to be successful in the classroom, at work, and in everyday life? This guide from the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center provides recommendations. Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) LDA is an organization that was founded by parents but has grown to include professionals and adults with LD. The site includes a comprehensive network of resources. Check to see if a chapter of LDA is available close to you. National Research Center on LD Learn about cutting-edge research at the NRCLD. Also, be sure to check out the history of LD article to discover how the field has changed. Neurobiological Basis of LD (LDAC) Dr. Christina Fiedorowicz provides an overview of brain research in the last decade. You can search other articles and information from the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada at this site. Responsiveness to Intervention A new way to identify students with learning disabilities is being explored. Tier 1 is the instruction all students receive in general education. Students who are unsuccessful at Tier 1 are placed into Tier 2 for concentrated and temporary small group instruction. Students who are unsuccessful at Tier 2 are evaluated for learning disabilities. Click to read more about RTI at NRCLD, Schwab, OSEP, NJCLD, and LDA. National Center for Learning Disabilities The NCLD addresses preschool, school-age, and adult issues. The organization provides online chats with experts and a policy and advocacy center. No Child Left Behind and Students with LD Link to the No Child Left Behind website. You can view information from NCLD that explains how students with LD are affected by NCLB by clicking here. Council for Learning Disabilities The purpose of the council is to promote effective teaching and research in the field of learning disabilities. Dedicated to the memory of Ennis Cosby, who had learning disabilities, this website provides resources to parents, teachers, and students. Read some inspiring thoughts from Ennis Cosby and other people with learning disabilities. Read blogs that provide useful resources regarding learning disabilities. Add your comments. Lab School of Washington, D.C. This outstanding school for students with learning disabilities emphasizes experiential learning. Founded by Sally Smith, the school’s Academic Clubs engage students in learning core curriculum through the arts. Sponsored by the Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children, this website provides news, resources, and discussions to enhance the teaching of students with LD. International Dyslexia Association The oldest organization devoted to learning disabilities, IDA follows the tradition of Dr. Samuel Orton, a pioneer in the field. The organization strongly promotes the Orton-Gillingham Method, which emphasizes a multisensory approach to teaching reading. Be sure to check out their article on the social and emotional aspects of dyslexia. Association on Higher Education and Disability® AHEAD works to ensure that students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, have full access to higher education. This website was created by and is for people with learning disabilities. Goals include educating the public and developing tools for people with LD. If you have a child who is highly gifted and has learning disabilities, this site addresses the needs of your family. You will find valuable links to websites and articles addressing the needs of students who have giftedness and learning disabilities. Return to: Text and Image Home | About Dr. Shank | Text and Image ADD| Feedback | Text UDL | Text LD| Academic and Social Resources | Text Pet Therapy | Text PBS| Text Single Parent of Child with Disability | Text WV | Text Writing |