Each student is different. For those with a learning disabiltiy, their disability may present differently than others. It is important to remember that each student's education should be looked at individually because what works for one student will not work for all.
According to the Individuals with Disabilties Education Act (IDEA) a learning disorder is defined as, “a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations.” Disabilities under this definition include: brain injury, dyslexia, and perceptual or language disorders. About 35% of all students who receive special education services have a specific learning disability.
Most students will spend the majority of time in their general education classroom, which is deemed the least restrictive environment for the student. Generally students with a learning disability will spend about 30-60 minutes per day in a special education setting as deemed by their individualied education plan (IEP).
When students are in the general education setting teachers should ensure they are following the modifications and accomodations that are stated in the student’s IEP. Some accomodations for students with learning disabilities in the general education setting are: preferential seating, audio books, scaffolding, pre-made notes, and visual schedules. Many students, not just those with a learning disability, could benefit from those accomodations as well.
Additionally, modifications may be appropriate for students as well, especially if they are significantly below grade level. General education teachers can provide material for the student at the grade level in which they are working with the support of then student’s special education teacher.
Finally, each student has the right to an education that meets their needs. It so up to the IEP team to ensure that the needs of the student are being met and to make the appropriate changes if they are not. An education is not one size fits all but rather all students, regardless of any disability or trauma, have the right to an education.
20% of American students have a learning disability. The number is higher than it was in the past because today's schools are better at identifying the various types of learning disabilities: dyslexia, dyspraxia, ASD, sensory processing disorder, etc. A recent report by the National Center for Learning Disabilities stated, “The majority of the one in five spend at least 80% of their time in general education classrooms, where many struggle to achieve at grade level despite often having average or above average intelligence.”
Why are students with learning disabilities spending so much time in regular classrooms? Are teachers in regular classrooms able to meet the needs of those 20% of students? An analysis of these questions is helpful to our understanding of this issue.
One reason for having so many students with learning disabilities in regular classes is a lack of funding. School districts across the country typically lack sufficient funds. Teacher pay is generally low. Other needs—even sports—are generally funded before special-learning programs.
In addition, it is often thought that students with learning disabilities do well in regular classes. After all, putting them in special classes may limit their social and academic progress.
However, it is often hard or unrealistic for general education teachers to offer the particular help these students may need. As a former high school teacher, I had classes of forty students. On average, eight had learning disabilities. I was not usually even informed of this. Also, teacher preparation programs do not typically devote much attention to the teaching of students with learning disabilities.
On the whole, the United States does not do a very good job in this area. This is not surprising because the entire American school system is pretty mediocre, according to PISA scores. However, even countries with better school systems—such as New Zealand—often struggle with providing proper education for students with learning disabilities.
https://www.ncld.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Forward-Together_NCLD-report.pdf
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/113120097/saving-our-einsteins-lessons-needed-in-special-education
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