WHAT IS LEARNING DISABILITIES

The term learning disabilities refers to a neurological disorder in one or more of the basic processes involved in understanding spoken or written language. This brain variance may influence an individual’s ability to speak, listen, read, write, spell, reason, organize information, or do mathematical calculations. If provided with the right support and intervention, a child with learning disabilities can succeed in school and have and have a successful, and often distinguished, career later in life. Parents and teachers can help the child achieve success by both fostering the child’s strengths and knowing the child’s weaknesses. People with learning disabilities do not look handicapped – they wear no prosthesis to assist them. The fact that they have no visible handicap has led to this condition being referred to as the invisible handicap. Because their difficulties are not obvious, learning disabled persons are often misunderstood and maligned. They are accused of “not listening”, of “being lazy”, of “being clumsy”, or “being weird”. Not understanding their own problem, they often experience loss of self esteem and feelings of worthlessness. The enigma of the youngster who encounters extraordinary difficulty in learning, of course, is not new. Throughout the years, children from all walks of life have experiences serious difficulties in learning. Moreover, the condition we call learning disabilities occurs in all cultures, nations, and language groups.

SOME EMINENT PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

The life stories of eminent individuals who eventually became successful contributors to society reflect their travails with serious learning disabilities.

I remember vividly the pain and mortification I felt as a boy of 8 when I was assigned to read a short passage of scriptures with a community vesper service during the summer vacation in Maine – and did a thoroughly miserable job of it.

Nelson Rockefeller
Served as vice president of the United States

I am not lazy, I am not stupid, I am dyslexic. My parents grounded me for weeks at a time because I was at the bottom 3 percent in the country in math. On the SAT’s I got 159 out of 800 in math. My parents had no idea that I had dyslexia. They never knew such a thing existed ( S.Smith, 1991 ).

Henry Winkler
Actor, Director, Producer

I got all C’s and D’s in school and I am mildly dyslexic. But I am very persistent and ambitious. When I applied to college, the admission officer said that I wasn’t what they wanted. So I sat outside his office for 12 hours a day until the admissions officer said he would let me in if I attended summer school. The tuition was $ 12,000, so I took out my wallet and gave him $ 12,000 in cash. I was already making good money in nightclubs. I think that having dyslexia is a competitive advantage. Dyslexic people are good at setting everything aside to pursue one goal. Ambition beats genius 99 percent of the time.

Jay Leno
Comedian and Late-Night Talk-Show Host