When School is Harder Than it Should Be…Teens With Learning Disabilities

All Learning Disabilities are Not Created Equal

When some people hear the term “learning disability” they think only of dyslexia, a disability which causes trouble reading. However, there are many different kinds of learning disabilities, each of which affects a person differently.

• Dyscalculia causes a person to have trouble with math.
• Dysgraphia causes a person to have trouble learning to write legibly.
• Dyspraxia causes a person to have difficulty with fine motor skills and everyday physical tasks.
• A nonverbal learning disability causes a person to have trouble organizing and understanding what they see.
• An auditory processing disorder causes a person to have trouble understanding and interpreting what they hear, despite the fact that their hearing works fine.
• Language disorders such as aphasia cause a person to have trouble expressing themselves through speech and finding meaning in what others say.

If you want more information about these learning disabilities and the difficulties that they cause, visit www.ldonline.org!

Famous People with Learning Disabilities

Who said that people with learning disabilities can’t succeed? Many famous writers, performers, politicians, and intellectuals have learning disabilities! These famous people concentrated on their strengths, and a combination of hard work and determination led them to success.

• Whoopi Goldberg	Wendy Wasserstein

  Comedian/actress Whoopi Goldberg knew she wasn’t dumb, and she persevered with her talents, even though school was hard and she had trouble reading. As an adult, she found out she was dyslexic, and everything made sense.
• Singer/actress Cher’s dyscalculia and dyslexia made school so frustrating for her that she actually left a the age of 16. Her learning disabilities sure don’t affect her when she’s on stage!

• Samantha Abeel

  Ann Bancroft’s dyslexia didn’t stop her from becoming the first woman to ski to the North Pole! She now uses her success to inspire others, and has worked as a spokesperson for the Learning Disabilities Association.
• Wendy Wasserstein had dyslexia, but she used her unique way of perceiving language to her advantage and became a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.
• Teen author Samantha Abeel has dyscalculia, but she published her first book of poetry when she was 15! If you want to read about Samantha’s struggle with her learning disability in middle and high school, check out her memoir, My Thirteenth Winter.

Straight from a Teacher

Still curious? Kathy Haagenson, a special education teacher, answers some questions that teens commonly ask about learning disabilities.

Teen Voices: How frequently do learning disabilities appear in teens?
Kathy Haagenson: In the school that I teach at it’s around 5-10% of students. Of course, there are many different types of learning disabilities, and some are more common than others.

TV: What signs should lead a teen to suspect they have a learning disability?
Kathy: Having a hard time with reading skills and reading comprehension would be an indicator, because reading is probably the most common difficulty. Other good clues would be a general feeling that they can’t keep up, that they have trouble following what the teacher is saying, are having a difficult time following the teacher’s directions, or keeping their studies organized. Somebody might have an easy time reading and have trouble with just math. Or they might be really skilled at math but have trouble writing. There are many different kinds of learning disabilities, and they all have different symptoms.

TV: If a teen thinks they have a learning disability, what should they do?
Kathy: They should talk to their parents because parents can make great advocates. As far as getting tested goes, a school teacher or counselor is the best person to talk to. I would certainly encourage a teenager to go straight to a teacher because most teachers at the middle and high school level are relatively well-versed in these matters and would best be able to help the student.

TV: What kind of tests are done to determine if you have a learning disability?
Kathy: It really depends on where the area of difficulty is, but generally for most students it would be some type of testing to see how they process information. The next part would be to do a specific evaluation in the area they have trouble with and assess their specific difficulties.

TV: What is the testing experience like?
Kathy: Generally teenagers like the evaluations because it’s done one on one, and broken into several testing sessions. It’s an experience where the student and examiner get to know each other, and hopefully they have a little bit of fun with it. We make sure the student knows that it’s perfectly okay to do badly on some parts of the test. We know it can be stressful for a student and so we try to explain exactly what’s going to happen so that that student knows what is coming up and why they are doing it.

TV: If a teen tests positively for a learning disability, what services can they get?
Kathy: There can be a whole range of services, depending on their specific needs. Some students may stay in a regular classroom and be given accommodations* in the classroom. Some students may need specialized instruction where they’re pulled out of the classroom for a period of time each day to get one-on-one help in an area where they are struggling. Some students may be struggling so much that they won’t take a subject in a regular classroom at all; instead they’ll take it with a teacher who can make sure the material is taught in a way they can understand.

TV: What are some examples of the modifications and accommodations that a student can get in a regular classroom?
Kathy: Typical ones would be extended time to finish an assignment, or reducing the amount of work the student is given to make it doable. Some students are given frequent breaks, or have classroom material “modified” so that it is taught in the way a student learns best. It really depends on the teen’s needs.

TV: In what ways might being diagnosed with a learning disability affect a teen’s life?
Kathy: When handled correctly, it can be a very positive thing in a student’s life because it helps them understand how they process information the way they do. For most students, it’s a relief to know why they are struggling , and that something can be done so that school doesn’t have to be so hard. Kids with learning disabilities typically have at least average intelligence and sometimes have above average intelligence, so when they are told that they are actually very bright but just have trouble demonstrating their knowledge because of a learning disability, it can be such a relief.

TV: If a teen has a friend with a learning disability, what are good ways for to show their support?
Kathy: I think the first thing would be to really know the strengths of your friend and encourage those strengths. The second thing would be to always be supportive and ask that person what you can do to help. You don’t want to just take over and do something for them, but instead ask them, “How can I help you?” If they need somebody to be a homework buddy, be their homework buddy.

TV: If you have a learning disability, is it possible to have a successful school career?
Kathy: Absolutely. There is no reason why a student with a learning disability can’t aspire to finish high school, go on to college, and into a career of their choice. In fact, sometimes I think that once they get out of school, life becomes even a little bit easier because they get to choose what their passions are. They don’t have to worry about the classes they don’t like!

Could you have a learning disability?

• 1. Do you feel like your schoolwork takes you too long – a lot longer than everyone else in your class?
• 2. Do you have a lot of trouble in one area of school, but really excel in another?
• 3. Do you reverse letters, numbers, and symbols, or have trouble recalling information?
• 4. Think back to your childhood. Were you far behind in learning to do certain things, such as write, read, add, or tie your shoes?
• 5. Do you feel like you usually understand concepts and ideas differently from the rest of your classmates?

Because there are so many different kinds of learning disabilities, only formal tests can accurately tell you if you have one. But if you answered yes to some of these questions, ask your school for a free evaluation. You might be entitled to certain accommodations such as extra help or extended time on tests that will help you understand an assignment the way your peers do!

Resources Used:

www.ldonline.org
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/famouspeoplewithlearningdisabilities.html
http://learningdisabilityforum.com/bbs-ld/621.html
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/printmember/gol0int-1
http://www.dyslexiaonline.com/famous/famous.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wilson/portrait/wp_wilson.html
http://www.dyslexiamentor.com/famous/famousdyslexics_005.php
http://www.nationwidespeakers.com/speaker/31/ann-bancroft/first-woman-to-ski-to-the-north-pole
http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=HARDCOVER:NEW:9780375400124:25.95&page=authorqa
http://www.ldaamerica.org/aboutld/teachers/understanding/language.asp

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