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Learning Disability Definitions

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Learning Disability Definitions
Learning Disability Definitions

Carolyn Stacey

Introduction

This article addresses the components of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) and The National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (1981) definitions of Learning Disabilities. Their similarities and differences in terms of their impact on identification and program development for students , the Canadian definition perspective as well as the inclusion of studying tips for special needs students is explored. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is the American federal law that governs special education services for children from the time of birth until they graduate from high school. Revised in 2004, the Act defines Learning Disabilities as the following: Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations. The term included such conditions as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia. This term does not include children who have learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage. (Public Law 108-446)

The National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (1981) has defined Learning disabilities as the following: Learning disabilities is a generic term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. These disorders are intrinsic to the individual and presumed to be due to central nervous system dysfunction. Even though a learning disability may occur concomitantly



References: American Speech- Language –Hearing Association. (1998) Operationalizing the NJCLD Definition of Learning Disabilities for Ongoing Assessment in Schools. doi: 10. 1044/policy.RP1998-00130 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Caplan, G.,& Grunebaum, H. (1967). Perspectives on primary prevention. Archives of General Psychiatry, 17, 331-346. Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development. (2000). In J. P. Shonkoff & D. Phillips (Eds.), From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Cortiella,C. (2006) Responsiveness-to-intervention: An overview. In a Parent’s Guide to Helping Kids with Difficulties. SchwabLearning.org. www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=840 Edmunds, A., & Edmunds, G Fuchs, D., Mock, D., Morgan, P.L., & Young, C. L. (2003). Responsiveness –to- intervention: Definitions, evidence and implications for the learning disabilities construct. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 16, 174-181. Hammill, D.D., Leigh, J. E., McNutt, G., & Larsen, S. C. (1981). A new definition of learning disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly, 4,336-342. Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. (2004). Public Law 108-446 Jones, V., & Jones, L Kauffman, J. M., Bantz, J., & McCullough, J. (2002) Separate and better: A special public school class for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Exceptionality,10,149-170. Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (2002). Retrieved January, 3, 2011 from www.ldac.acta.ca National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities Paul-Brown, D., & Caperton, C. J. (2001). Inclusive practices for pres-school age children with Specific language impairment. In M.J. Guralnick (Ed.), Early Childhood Inclusion: Focus on change. Baltimore: Brookes. Sedita, J. (1999). Helping Your Child with Organization and Study Skills. Retrieved from http://ldonline.org/article Stichter, J U.S. Department of Education (2004). Twenty fifth annual report to Congress on implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Washington, DC: Author. Walker, H. M., Ramsey, E., & Gresham, F. M. (2004). Antisocial behavior in school: Strategies and best practices (2nd ed.) Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

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