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Learning About Learning Disabilities
Drew Austin
January 2, 2002
Traditionally, judgmental labels such as stupid, "hyper", troublemaker and lazy have been used to describe people afflicted with a learning disability. These days, however, we are gaining a better understanding about learning disabilities and how they affect the everyday life of children and adults.
Education is the first step to better understand the effects of learning disabilities both for those diagnosed with them as well as those who might suspect they have one.
The Learning Disability Association of Ontario's web site at www.lldao.on.ca contains a large amount of information for just about everyone who might be affected by a learning disability: parents, partners, educators, and of course those afflicted with the disabilities.
The section "About Learning Disabilities" has useful facts and myths. There is a comprehensive list of articles on a wide range of related topics, from early identification to information on specific learning disabilities like Attention Deficit Disorder and Dyslexia. This section also contains extensive information for parents of LD children on a range of topics including how to deal with the child at home and how to deal with the child's teacher ("Tips for Parents" at www.ldao.on.ca/partips.html).
Under "For Adults Only" are some of the more common traits that adults with learning disabilities manifest. You will also find articles about how adults can cope with learning disabilities, personal reflections by people who have lived with learning disabilities as well as a list of books on the topic.
Due to the fact that until recently it has been thought that learning disabilities disappear when a person reaches adulthood this section can be most useful. It is vital that an adult be educated on how their learning disability affects them as an adult; this information can greatly help the LD adult lead a fuller, more rewarding life.
Perhaps the most useful feature of this web site is the contact information provided. www.ldao.on.ca has a comprehensive listing of the many groups and organizations who can provide extended support.
Because of the invisible nature of learning disabilities, people all too often dismiss them as an excuse for laziness, stupidity or bad behaviour. In addition to the difficulties created directly by the disability, these attitudes create a societal barrier that makes it even harder for those with a learning disability.
Ignorance can also be very detrimental in the person with the LD as well. Without an understanding of what an LD is, how theirs affects them and how they can manage its more negative traits, people with a learning disability can think themselves stupid or even sub-human.
But by educating themselves, the learning disabled person can learn the truth about their learning disability and begin to lead a more fulfilling life.
Drew Austin is a Community Access Program member operating from the Tavistock branch of the Oxford County Library.
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