Senior School Students and Adults

• Continues to spell incorrectly, frequently spells the same word differently in a single piece of writing.
• Avoids reading and writing tasks.
• Trouble summarizing.
• Trouble with open–ended questions on tests.
• Weak memory skills.
• Difficulty adjusting to new settings.
• Works slowly.
• Poor grasp of abstract concepts.
• Either pays too little attention to details or focuses on them too much.
• Misreads information.

My child has LD…what do I do?

• Know your child’s strengths.
• Children with learning disabilities are often highly intelligent, possess leadership skills, or are superior in music, arts, sports, or other creative areas.
• Rather than focusing solely on your child’s deficiencies, emphasize and reward your child’s strengths.
• Encourage your child in areas of interest outside the classroom.
• Collect information about your child’s performance.
• Meet with your child’s teachers, tutors, and school support personnel to understand performance levels, and attitude toward school.
• Observe your child’s ability to study, complete homework, and finish tasks that you assign at home.
• Have your child professionally evaluated.
• Talk to your child about learning disabilities.
• Children with learning disabilities must be assured that they are not dumb or lazy.
• They are intelligent people who have trouble learning because their minds process words or information differently.

It is not easy to talk with your child about a disability that you do not fully understand. Be informed. It is important to be honest and optimistic–explain to your child that they struggle with learning, but that they can learn. Focus on your child’s talents and strengths. Tell them you are confident that with effort and the right help they will be able to meet the challenge and succeed!

Find arrangements that can help. Teachers can change classroom routines to help children with learning disabilities. Meet with your child’s teacher about these possibilities: Reading written information aloud, allowing extra time on exams, taping lessons, and using computers etc.