Chapter 2 –
The Multiple Talents of Students with Learning Disabilities
*Learning disabilities are the most common
reason that children in the United States are referred for Special Education
Services
*This amounts to about 5 percent of all
students in our public education system
*Specific learning disabilities account for a
variety of disorders that can affect reading, writing, listening, speaking,
reasoning, calculating, sensory processing and memory
-80 percent of students labeled SLD have
deficits in reading
Facts about Dyslexia
* new research shows
that dyslexia may be in part a phonological disorder
* it is common for
students with dyslexia to show an unusual skill in drawing, doing mechanical
puzzles and building models at a young age
* artists Andy
Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Leonardo da Vinci all exhibited dyslexia
Positive Role Models
* it is important for students with learning
disabilities to understand that others out there have become successful despite
having a disability
Career Aspirations
*individuals with
dyslexia and other learning disabilities may show expertise in the field of
business
* this is because
they demonstrate superior intuitive abilities (ability to think “outside of the
box”)
* some possible
career choices for students with learning disabilities: animator, engineer,
physicist, artist, interior designer, pilot, architect
Environmental
Modifications
- - least restrictive is a setting where difficulties
with printed words are minimized and strengths (art, archietecutre, etc) are
maximized.
-issues with this…
- art and other related courses aren’t
available due to cut funding etc.
This last thing is something that I can
relate to! Our students K-5 do not receive any art class. We do art in our
classroom, which ends up being more of a crafting experience. We will soon be
expected to teach art standards to our students for our grade level. This fact
just boggles my mind as I couldn’t ever apply for an art position without an
art degree but now I can teach it?
