Articulating Learning Disabilities in the Digital Age

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-86
Author(s):  
Melinda M. Leko ◽  
Cynthia C. Griffin

In a 1986 study published in the Learning Disability Quarterly, Simmons and Kame'enui examined information found in popular periodicals about learning disabilities (LD) in an effort to understand what people learn about LD from these high-readership sources. After more than 20 years, advances in technology have brought significant changes to how people obtain and disseminate information. Therefore, we revisited the findings of Simmons and Kame'enui by investigating information about LD presented on the Internet. An analysis of the contents of 23 websites suggested that medically based etiologies are most frequently associated with LD, supporting the 1986 results. Unlike the 1986 findings, however, the interventions found on the Internet include a variety of educational supports designed to promote the success of students with LD in the general education environment. Situated in the context of the digital age, implications for LD organizations and future research are provided.

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Woodcock ◽  
Wilma Vialle

Over recent years, moves toward the inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms has brought about increasing attention to the way general education teachers perceive these students. Commensurate with this has been a growing interest in what may constitute educational success for children with special needs in mainstream classrooms, plus the ability of general education teachers to provide effective and appropriate instruction for them. It is known that teachers form beliefs about the process of teaching during their pre-service training and also that once a belief has been held for a long time, it becomes extremely difficult to change (Bandura, 1977, and Liljedahl, 2005). With learning disabilities being one of the most common disabilities in the classroom (Clark, 1997, and Clark & Artiles, 2000), it was considered that the need to further explore pre-service teachers’ perceived use of instructional strategies in relation to students who have what is termed learning disabilities, is indeed critical. This study looked at the instructional strategies Australian pre-service teachers reported they would use for students with a learning disability compared to students without a learning disability. The findings show that pre-service teachers favour more direct teacher-centred instructional strategies for students with a learning disability and more learner-centred instructional strategies for students without a learning disability. The greatest discrepancy in strategy use between the two groups of students was the higher cognitive level instructional strategies within a learner-centred environment. Pre-service teachers would use these strategies more frequently with students who do not have a learning disability. Implications for future practice and recommendations for future research are presented.


2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Maccini ◽  
Joseph Calvin Gagnon ◽  
Charles A. Hughes

The researchers conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on technology-based practices for secondary students identified as having learning disabilities (LD) involving instruction and/or assessment that measured some aspect of performance on a general education task or expectation (i.e., test). Technology-based practices included computer- or video-based interventions, multimedia programs, technology-based assessment, and verbatim audio recordings. Three practices appear promising for educating students with LD: (a) hypertext and hypermedia software programs; (b) videodisc instruction involving contextualized learning; and (c) multimedia software. Educational recommendations and directions for future research are offered based upon results.


2021 ◽  
pp. 082957352199895
Author(s):  
Lauren D. Goegan ◽  
Gabrielle N. Pelletier ◽  
Lia M. Daniels

Growth and fixed mindset messaging is gaining popularity. In our pilot study, we examine the mindsets of students with learning disabilities (LD) to determine how their self-beliefs relate to this messaging. Our results demonstrate that students with LD endorse growth mindsets more than fixed mindsets which is consistent with their peers without LD. Moreover, in their comments about being a student with LD, participants highlight important components of growth mindset messaging. However, some comments may reflect a false-growth mindset wherein students are only focused on effort and not the additional resources required for growth. We provide directions for future research.


2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81
Author(s):  
Susan Whitmer

Key drivers that influence space design in today's higher education environment are technology, changing demographics, increased focus on student engagement, and carbon footprint. Just as important, but not typically on the list, is the growing population of students with Learning Disabilities (LD) for which the physical environment plays an increasingly important role in successful learning outcomes. The research goal was to examine the role of “place” as a component of academic success for those students with LD. Methodology included both literature review and the development of a case study analysis of three post-secondary institutions in the United States. The universities were chosen based on the size of the university, the campus setting, and the mission of the Disabilities Services team. The conclusion of the research surfaced three specific components of the physical environment that hold an increased value for a student with LD. These components are wayfinding, formal learning spaces, and disability services spaces. The key to integrating a sense of place with the needs of students with LD is moving beyond meeting the minimum standards of the legal mandates and bridging the principles of universal design to the built environment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary M. Sullivan

This article reports on action research that took place in one section of a college general education mathematics course in which all three students who were enrolled had diagnosed learning disabilities related to mathematics. The project emerged in response to a question about performance in a mathematics course in which making sense of mathematics would be a primary focus, explaining one's work would be expected, and discourse among members would be a routine occurrence. Implications for teaching similar courses to students who have a mathematics-related learning disability are discussed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
David McNaughton ◽  
Charles A. Hughes ◽  
Karen Clark

We reviewed 27 published studies on spelling instruction for students with learning disabilities (LD) and coded them for the following variables: (a) student characteristics, (b) instructional activities, (c) nature of materials to be learned, and (d) criterial tasks (Jenkins, 1979). Most of the studies investigated the impact of instructional activities on the production of targeted spelling items by elementary-grade students with LD. We interpret the results of this review as suggesting that the following activities may enhance learning for some students with LD: (a) limiting the number of new words introduced each day, (b) facilitating student-directed and peer-assisted instruction, (c) directing students to name letters aloud as they are practiced, (d) including instruction in morphemic analysis, (e) providing immediate error imitation and correction, (f) using motivating reinforcers, and (g) providing periodic retesting and review. Only limited information is available on interventions that promote generalization of spelling knowledge to untrained words, use of trained vocabulary in a variety of writing activities, and maintenance of vocabulary across time. We discuss current research issues and future research directions in spelling instruction for students with learning disabilities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Jennings ◽  
Olivia Hewitt

Purpose – Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is currently one of the recommended treatments for depression for the general population and guidance recommends that people with a learning disability should have access to the same treatments as people without a learning disability. The purpose of this paper is to identify, outline and evaluate current research on the effectiveness of CBT for depression for people with a learning disability. The clinical, service and research implications are considered. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic search was conducted and five relevant articles were identified for critical review. Findings – There is a limited but promising evidence base for the use of CBT for depression with people with learning disabilities. Research limitations/implications – The current review identified a number of methodological issues and future research should attempt to overcome these (e.g. small sample sizes and lack of controls). In particular, research should focus on determining the relative contribution of cognitive and behavioural techniques in producing a change in depressive symptoms. Practical implications – Services (including those provided as part of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) should be offering CBT-based interventions for people with learning disabilities who are experiencing depression. Originality/value – This paper provides a comprehensive and up to date review of the current literature regarding the use of CBT for depression for people with a learning disability. This will be of value to clinicians working with people with a learning disability as well as those commissioning services.


2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kuhne ◽  
Judith Wiener

The stability of peer status of children with and without learning disabilities (LD) was examined. Thirty-eight 9- to 12-year-old children with LD were compared with a sample of children without LD matched on gender and general education classroom placement using a composite positive and negative nomination sociogram (Coie & Kupersmidt, 1983) and a Social Behavior Nomination Scale adapted from Dodge (1983). The measures were administered twice in the same school year. Findings that students with LD had lower social preference scores and were more likely to be socially rejected were consistent with previous research. Children with LD were also less likely to be seen as cooperative and leaders than children without LD. Although the sociometric measures had good test-retest reliability, the Social Preference score of children with LD decreased and their Liked Least score increased from Time 1 to Time 2 compared to children without LD. Children with LD were also seen by their peers as being more dependent at Time 2 than Time 1. Children with LD who had average social status at Time 1 were more likely than children without LD to change their social status to Neglected or Rejected social status at Time 2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Kerstin Nobel ◽  
Anne Barwasser ◽  
Matthias Grünke ◽  
Kristie Asaro-Saddler ◽  
Bruce Saddler

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of a simultaneous prompting procedure on the writing performance of three upper-elementary-level students diagnosed with learning disabilities (LD). Interventionists gave task directions followed by model prompts with a 0-s time delay to teach students composition. Non-targeted information related to the writing process was embedded in the form of progress monitoring. A multiple-baseline design across participants (AB) was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Results indicate that the simultaneous prompting procedure positively affected the overall quality of writing of students with LD. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijun Li ◽  
Christine M. Hamel

This article provides a synthesis of the literature published from 1990 to 2000 on college students with learning disabilities and writing difficulties (LD/WD). Thirty-eight articles met the criteria for describing writing difficulties in this cohort of students. Upon reviewing the articles, four major topics emerged: (a) assistive technology for college students with LD/WD; (b) effectiveness of assistive technology for college students with LD/WD; (c) characteristics and error patterns in the writings of college students with LD/WD; and (d) instructional support and methods. The review of the literature shows that there is an urgent need for empirical studies, especially on instructional methods and strategies. Recommendations for future research are presented.


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