LEARNING

DISABILITIES
AND YOUR CHILD
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, there are
currently 2.4 million students diagnosed with a learning disability
1
.
Even more go unnoticed, as there is no single test or widely accepted
approach to discovering learning disabilities. The difculty lies within
the fact that within each child, a learning disability can manifest in a diferent method. With 45 percent of students with a learning
disability falling 3 or more grades behind their peers
2
, quickly fnding the best support can be the best way to guide your child
towards success.
The best method to identifying a learning disability in your child is through taking note of your childs strength and weaknesses and
honing in on struggle areas. Often times, private boarding schools or private schools for learning disabilities ofer the best support
solutions for your child to overcome a learning disability and achieve academic success.
The frst step towards identifying a learning
disability in your child is to frst research the
diferent types of learning disabilities. Once
you pinpoint your childs problem areas, you
can better pinpoint which tests to conduct to
hone in on your childs disability and how to
best support the disability. Some of the most
commonly found learning disabilities are
dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADHD.
Dyslexia is the common name for a reading
disability. Often characterized by spelling
difculties, word recognition and decoding the
disability causes problems with reading skills
and the growth of vocabulary in your child.
Dyslexia is the most common of all the learning
disabilities. The National Institute of Child and
Human Development predicts that as many as
15 percent of Americans experience trouble
with reading comprehension and writing. With
much classroom activity based on both reading
and writing
3
, dyslexia can severely afect your
childs progress in school.
Children that demonstrate a difculty in writing
related to motor and information processing
skills may be diagnosed with dysgraphia.
Poor spelling, handwriting or ability to write
down thoughts are some signs of dysgraphia.
Students diagnosed with dysgraphia often need
extra practice in learning the mechanical skills
behind writing.
TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES
While ADHD is not considered a learning disorder, it is often found in students with other learning
disabilities. By not being able to stay focused to tasks, being overly restless and inattention are all signs
of ADHD and can directly impact your childs ability to learn. There are two main types of ADHD, being
hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive. Hyperactive impulsive creates restlessness in students, causing
them trouble with quiet activities and causing constant movement or fdgeting. Students experiencing
inattentive ADHD can ofer fnd themselves being slow to processing information and instructions along
with poor listening and organization skills. Many of the symptoms of ADHD are caused by a breakdown of
executive functions in the brain and language based issues.
LEARNING DISORDER SUPPORT
Many schools are required by law to develop
and Individualized Education Plan. While
these plans provide educational benefts,
improved achievement is not guaranteed. When
communicating with your childs school, it is
important to be clear and confdent in how the
school treats your child.
REMEMBER TO:
Clarify your goals
Allow the school to explain their
opinions and suggestions.
Ofer and research alternative solutions
Remain focused on your child,
remembering each child has diferent
areas of disability.
Dont give up and remember the
school is on your side.
With early recognition and intervention, many students who sufer from a learning disorder can be directed
towards the support they need for academic success. Gathering and collection information on your childs
progress in school is the frst step to monitoring a learning disorder. Often times, a school will work with you
to help you discover the problem. Regardless of the disorder, encouragement and positive reinforcement can
give your struggling child a sense of self-worth.
Public schools have a lawful obligation to evaluate all possible learning disabled students, but they are
not forced to follow through on parent requests. If a school suggests increased academic intervention
while refusing to further evaluate a student for a possible learning disorder, be certain to ask for a written
explanation and keep all pieces as documentation of the process. Keeping a close, personal connection with
the special education staf of your childs school allows you to better advocate for your childs learning needs.
Occasionally, a public school will provide tuition assistance for students with learning disabilities seeking out
the improved special education facilities of a private boarding school.
In larger public schools, a child can often fall
between the cracks, as specialty teachers as
stretched thin with an increased amount of
learning disabled students. Private schools
for disabilities enable a parent and their child
to work closely with their teachers. Smaller
class sizes and increased student teacher
interactions help both teachers and parents to
come up with a personalized learning strategy
geared towards the childs success.
Many private schools ofer specialists and
psychologists on staf, helping students achieve
academic success through close monitoring and
care. With the aid of a specialized staf member,
a child can learn the time management, study
and organizational skills that are fundamental
to academic achievement. At times, the school
will ofer diferent fnancial aid options for
those students with disabilities.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR DISABILITIES
Just because students with learning disabilities experience more difculties in the classroom doesnt
mean they are incapable of learning. Many times, classroom struggles can be overcome with efective
learning strategies geared towards their specifc needs whether dysgraphia, dyslexia, dyscalculia or ADHD.
Promising small class sizes helps to engage every student in an active learning process as well as a 24/7
learning environment, The Grand River Academy allows students with learning disabilities to work closely
with a specialized staf dedicated to helping your child to best understand course material in a manner
best for them, learning how to become independent learners and unlock their academic potential.
Contact an admissions representative today for more information on disability schools in Ohio and your
childs needs.
Sources
1. http://ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/what-is-ld/learning-dis-
ability-fast-facts
2. http://www.nlts2.org/reports/2003_11/index.html
3. http://ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia
WWW.GRANDRIVER.ORG
Grand River Academy
3042 College Street
Austinburg, Ohio
44010
Phone: 440.275.2811
Fax: 440.275.1825