WEB SITE HELPS PARENTS AND EDUCATORS
IDENTIFY LEARNING DIFFICULTIES
~ An Estimated 15
Million Children, Adolescents, and Adults In The U.S.
Have Learning Disability ~
December 2007
Washington, D.C. - An estimated
fifteen million children, adolescents, and adults in
the U.S. have a learning disability. In fact, 2.9 million
students ages six to 21 are classified as having specific
learning disabilities and receive some kind of special
education support. According to data from the U.S. Department
of Education, thirteen percent of public school students
receive special education due to a disability with half,
or roughly six and a half percent, having a learning
disability.
Learning disabilities (LD)
are specific neurological disorders that affect the
brain's ability to store, process, or communicate information.
The term learning disability is used to describe the
seeming unexplained difficulty a person of at least
average intelligence has in acquiring basic academic
skills. These skills are essential for success at school
and work, and for coping with life in general. LD is
not a single disorder. It is a term that refers to a
group of disorders.
But often times, early warning
signs of learning disabilities are ignored or dismissed
with parents and educators hoping the child will "grow
out of it" or that the child will "catch up." Science
says otherwise. There is growing consensus in education
that intervening early, using research-based interventions
and instruction, monitoring student progress, and using
assessment data to inform instructional decision-making
can ameliorate or prevent the occurrence of learning
disabilities. Early intervention is key to improving
educational outcomes.
To better help educators and
parents recognize signs of potential learning disabilities
and a new approach to intervention, National Center
for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has launched the Recognition
and Response program that allows educators and parents
to recognize and address the needs of young children
(3 to 5 year-olds) who show signs that they may not
be learning in an expected manner, even before they
begin kindergarten. For more information on learning
disabilities and the Recognition and Response Program,
visit www.recognitionandresponse.org.
###
|
|
