What is a learning disability?   

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines a learning disability 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 an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.         

Learning disabilities do NOT include “learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.”

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities,          

A learning disability is a “neurological impairment that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information.”  A learning disability can affect a person’s reading, writing, spelling, calculation, and reasoning skills.  A learning disability can also affect a person’s attention, memory, social skills, and emotional maturity.  

Basic Facts

• People with learning disabilities learn differently than people without learning disabilities.     
• Learning disabilities have nothing to do with one’s intelligence – people with LD typically have average to above average cognitive abilities.     
• It is a disability that is not readily apparent, which sometimes makes it harder for other people to believe and accept.      
• Although individuals with learning disabilities share similar characteristics, learning disabilities are manifested differently from person to person.      
• There is evidence that learning disabilities are hereditary.       
• LD is a lifelong disorder and may be manifested differently over time.

For more information: The National Center for Learning Disabilities (http://www.ncld.org/), Learning Disabilities Association of America (http://www.ldanatl.org/), LDOnline (http://www.ldonline.org/), Tips for college students