Introduction and Overview
I'm so excited to be here today because this is a topic I'm quite passionate about. OTs are uniquely qualified to look at the skill of reading and learning, and how these skills can impact a person’s function. We know about learning disorders and we treat them on a regular basis. However, I feel that it is valuable to provide some additional background information, to gain a better understanding of the origins of learning disabilities, so that we know what is going on in the minds of these students. My goal is to give you as many treatment strategies as possible, so that you can leave here today feeling a lot more competent and confident in your abilities.
I'm called the “Pocket” Occupational Therapist. That's because I want my books and all the information I give you to be accessible. I want you to be able to readily gain access to the information and apply it in your work setting – like you are pulling it out of your back pocket. I have four books out right now. Specifically, “The Special Needs SCHOOL Survival Guide” and the “Parent's Guide to Occupational Therapists for Autism,” contain many strategies and handouts that you may need. Using these tools, you can help educate families. They are also helpful for new grads, and for therapists that have been in practice for a long time.
What is a Learning Disability?
Learning disabilities are neurological differences in brain structure and function. There is an actual difference in the way that the brain processes information. These disabilities can range in severity and can affect the person's ability to store, process and communicate information. We tend to start seeing learning disabilities in children when they enter preschool and kindergarten. We observe signs and symptoms of things, like difficulty holding a pencil, mixing up letters such as “d” and “b.” When a child enters third and fourth grade, we begin to see more profound difficulties and struggles with learning disabilities. At that point, they have graduated beyond learning to spell and hold a pencil; now they are required to take notes and get information on paper so they can study and learn more advanced concepts. It is important to notice the signs and to work with these children as early as possible, before they get to third and fourth grade, because the earlier we can give a child remediation, the better they're going to do when it comes to complex information.
A lot of research is still being conducted on learning disabilities. The good news is that celebrities are coming out and announcing that they have learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, or they have children with autism. They are helping to raise awareness and acceptance, which in turn generates more money and research dedicated to understanding learning disabilities. At the end of this presentation, I have provided a list of learning disorder references and resources. I encourage you to explore those resources further, to get a better understanding of some of the disorders that, due to time constraints, I am not able to cover in great in detail.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires schools to serve the educational needs of eligible students with disabilities. It is a four-part piece of legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided free and appropriate education that is tailored to their individual needs. A Specific Learning Disability (SLD) is 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 do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific Learning Disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of: visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; intellectual disability; serious emotional disability; cultural factors; environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency. An SLD is considered a disorder, unrelated to intelligence, motivation, effort, or other known causes of low achievement, that makes a child struggle in areas of learning, such as reading, writing or doing math. To receive services under IDEA, the child would need to fit under this SLD.
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
Another way that a child may receive services, is if they fit under the “other health impairment (OHI)” category. The official definition of OHI is “having limited strength, vitality or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment that (a) is due to chronic or acute health problems such as…attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder…and (b) adversely affects a child's educational performance. Children with ADHD and ADD may be classified as eligible for special education and related services under the "other health impairment" category.
504 Plans
When I wrote my book, “The Special Needs SCHOOL Survival Guide,” I did extensive research and learned a lot of things I didn't know previously. Did you know that a 504 Plan was born from a civil rights law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)? When a student tests out of IEPs, and even into adulthood in the workplace, if they have a learning disability, they can qualify for a 504 Plan. Therefore, if you are an adult with a learning disability, it is within your civil rights to receive work accommodations.
Potential Causes
Some potential causes of learning disabilities and autism include the following:
- Brain trauma before or during birth (e.g., hypoxia)
- Genetic factors
- Post-natal events (e.g., traumatic brain injuries)
- Exposure to toxins
There are other factors that some people believe may contribute to causing autism, like diet, exposure to chemicals, and certain vaccines. For the purposes of today’s seminar, we are not going to discuss or debate those beliefs.
