DISABILITIES: Learning Disabilities
A 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, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculation.
Students with learning disabilities possess average to above average intelligence. The disability is demonstrated by a significant discrepancy between expected and actual performance in one or more of the basic functions: Memory, Oral Expression, Listening Comprehension, Written Expression, Basic Reading Skills, Reading Comprehension, Mathematical Calculation, or Mathematical Reasoning.
Learning Disabilities Include:
- Dyslexia (difficulty learning to read)
- Dyscalculia (difficulty learning mathematics)
- Dysnomia (word-finding problem)
- Dysgraphia (difficulty with handwriting)
- Dysphasia (developmental language disorders)
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Perceptual Disabilities
The support and accommodations provided for each student is individualized and based upon the documentation presented by the student.
Some of the accommodations utilized by students with learning disabilities are:
- Registration (Reduced course load, priority registration)
- General (Extended time to complete assignments on case to case basis and medical need)
- Note taking (Tape recorders, copies of classmate's notes)
- Testing (Extended time, proctored testing in a quiet, separate area, test read to student, scribe, etc.)
- Reading (Taped texts, reader)
- Writing (Extended time for in-class assignments to correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, word processor with spell check)
- Math (Calculator
for a student with a disability in the area of math processing. (The
SAT is now allowing the use of a standard four function calculator as
- Use of Assistive Technologies during exam (Software tutorials specializing in areas helpful to the student are offered upon request)
PLEASE NOTE: Not all students will need all of the above services. Specific accommodations are based on the diagnostic information provided by each student.