Definition
Specific learning disabilities is a large umbrella for a variety of learners. According to the Colorado Department of Education, "Specific Learning Disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia."
Characteristics
Lerner (2000) stated nine characteristics of students with specific learning disabilities. Characteristics include;
- Disorders of attention
- Reading difficulties
- Poor motor abilities
- Written language difficulties
- Oral language difficulties
- Social skill deficits
- Psychological process deficits
- Quantitative disorders
- Information processing problems
Accommodations
Accommodations for students with specific learning disabilities vary, but may include:
- Give frequent positive encouragement and praise
- Provide feedback in a helpful, non-threatening manner
- Allow the student to tape-record lectures or provide the student with a lecture handout
- Orally give instructions or read the text/problem
- Extended time on assignments and quizzes/tests
- Provide small group or one-on-one instruction
Modifications
Modifications for students with specific learning disabilities vary, but may include:
- Supplemental aids (manipulatives)
- Modify an assignment to have less words in a text or math problems
- Change grading system
- Give alternate homework
- Change presentation of material
- Creating individualized benchmarks
Resources
- Characteristics of Children with Learning Disabilities
A resource dedicated to the characteristics of children with learning disabilities. This website will be helpful for teachers when identifying students for referrals and identifying distinct behaviors.
- Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
This website offers courses to take to learn more about specific learning disabilities, as well as a plethora of documents with additional resources when teaching students with specific learning disabilities.
- Classroom Modifications and Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities
A document dedicated to identifying appropriate accommodations and modifications for students with specific learning disabilities. A teacher can use this list to think about ways in which he/she can cater to student's individual needs.
- Specific Learning Disability
A website that includes the IDEA definition of students with specific learning disabilities. This resource also includes specific information about using data to give student interventions.
- Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities
This resource contains valuable information on how to refer a child for special education and the role of the teacher, parents, and school psychologist. This resource also mentions the important documents the teacher will need to have on-hand.