Misunderstood Minds By Madeline Gelmetti Learning Disabilities When

Misunderstood Minds By Madeline Gelmetti

Learning Disabilities When people see, hear, and understand things differently. This makes it difficult to learn new information and skills, and put them to use. Learning Disabilities are a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information.

Reading Math Writing Reasoning Listening Speaking

Learning disabilities are NOT poor intelligence, laziness or the result of impaired hearing or vision

Types of Learning Disabilities

Dyslexia Area of Difficulty: Processing Language Symptoms: Troubles with reading, writing and spelling Examples: Confusing letter names and sounds, difficulties blending sounds into words, slow rate of reading, trouble remembering after reading text

What It’s Like To Have Dyslexia http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=gw. ZLFTW 4 OGY

What It’s Like To Have a Reading/Decoding Disorder http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/misunderstoodmind s/experiences/readexp 1 c. html

Dyscalculia Area of Difficulty: Math Skills Symptoms: Computation, remembering math facts, concepts of time and money Examples: Difficulty learning to count by 2 s, 3 s, 4 s, poor mental math skills, problems with spatial directions

What It’s Like To Have Dyscalculia http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/misunderstoodmind s/experiences/mathexp 3 a. html

Dysgraphia Area of Difficulty: Written expression Symptoms: Handwriting, spelling and composition Examples: Illegible handwriting, difficulty organizing ideas for writing

What It’s Like To Have Dysgraphia Pick up a writing utensil with your nondominant hand (the hand you do NOT typically write with). Write your first and last name backwards on a piece of paper. This activity can also simulate the feeling of having dyspraxia as well.

Dyspraxia Area of Difficulty: Fine motor skills Symptoms: Coordination, manual dexterity Examples: Trouble with scissors, buttons, drawing

What It’s Like To Have Dyspraxia http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ka 69 MLz. W 4 cg

During the “simulation activities”… How did you feel? What was difficult about them? Where did you struggle?

Most importantly… How do you think you would feel sitting in a class with your peers who can successfully do all of these activities, and you cannot?

Resources http: //www. helpguide. org/mental/learning_dis abilities. htm http: //www. ncld. org/types-learningdisabilities/what-is-ld/what-are-learningdisabilities http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/misunderstoodmind s/intro. html