Learning Disabilities Association

of York Region
The Learning Disabilities Association of York
Region is a non-profit organization providing
support,
guidance
and
information
for
professionals, families and individuals with
learning disabilities and/or attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder.
We believe in promoting knowledge of learning
disabilities to the community and encourage the
empowerment of individuals with learning
disabilities so they may achieve their goals to the
fullest potential.
The Learning Disabilities Association does not
receive financial support from the government.
Funds are raised through individual and
corporate donations and fundraising events.
For more information, please contact:
Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

11181 Yonge Street, Unit 221

Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1L2
Tel: 905-884-7933
Fax: 905-770-9377
Email: info@ldayr.org
Website: www.ldayr.org

Living with
a Learning Disability
~Jan C. Van Loon~
For the third time he ripped my assignment to
shreds, consigning the pieces to the
wastebasket with a theatrical flourish of his
hand. His face was flushed with anger as he
shouted, How could someone who writes
and spells like you do possibly get into grade
8?
Like 10% of the adult population, I have a
relatively
severe
learning
disability
sometimes called dyslexia. Because of my
LD, I spell at a below grade 9 level, and I
am unable to learn by reading conventionally.
Although I learn better though listening, I am
still operating below the 50% level in this
category. Despite these problems, I have
managed to attain a Ph.D. in chemistry.
Living with a learning disability is not merely
continual feelings of stupidity, depression,
and insufficiency it is a defensive lifestyle; a
life full of unpleasant surprises that
continually cut down any tender young shoots
of optimism that may emerge.
Despite this ocean of uncertainty and
negativism, there still exist small islands of
success that even I cannot submerge.

This product is supported through the

Parents Reaching Out Grants from
the Ministry of Education

M:\LDAYR\Public Relations\Public Education And Awareness\Brochures\LD Brochure For Parents.Doc

Self-Advocacy for the Adult

with LD
~ Pat Boyd~

Anyone can be a self-advocate; in fact

Learning Disabilities Association

of York Region

Learning
Disabilities

most of us already are self-advocates.

Self-advocacy requires a high level of

knowledge about yourself in any

situation. Know your strengths and
your weaknesses.

- A Parents Letter -

When you can say, I have a

disability, and you can briefly define

the immediate problem and solution in
words that are familiar to the general
public, you are ready to be a
successful self-advocate in disabilityrelated situations.

Cooperation

and
effective
communication are vital elements in
maintaining
a
relationship
and
achieving your goals.

When you know your qualifications,

limitations, rights and responsibilities,

you can express your request to have
your needs met with a positive
statement plus an attitude of
cooperation.

A learning disability
is a lifelong condition.
A child with learning disabilities grows
into a youth with learning disabilities
who then become an adult with
learning disabilities.

Dear Reader:
I am a 14 year old student with learning
disabilities (LD). Students with LD are smart,
but they may have trouble in school, with
reading, writing, math, physical education
classes, social skills and organizing their things.

Trouble in gym sometimes involves catching

and shooting a ball and running.

Social problems might be talking too much,

saying something inappropriate, acting too

fast, or not being able to control their
emotions.

There are one or two children with learning

disabilities in every class, so maybe if a teacher
says that a student in her class isnt trying or is
goofing off and so on, maybe that child has
learning disabilities.
The difference between learning disabled and
goofing off is that when a child who is goofing
off starts to work, he or she can grasp the
concepts in the course easily. A student with
learning disabilities, can work non-stop and still
never grasp the material in these. (Believe me,
Ive been through it.)

What is a Learning Disability?

~ Paul Thompson~
When a child is identified as having an LD, we
know that he or she has at least and possibly
above average intelligence and he or she
learns in a different way. This means that the
child is exceptional in the area of
communications or processing of information.
Think of the circuitry of a computer. All the
bits and pieces are labelled and, if there is a
malfunction, a technician can find the problem
and fix it. The human brain is infinitely more
complex than a computer. Even the best
neurosurgeons cannot repair the malfunctions
in a persons ability to process information.
Processing information appears to require
skills in four areas:
Reception of information
Organization of information
Ability to retrieve information from storage
in the brain
Communication to others
Difficulties in any of these areas can seriously
affect a childs ability to learn in a normal way
and may prevent the child from developing
competence or the ability to interact effectively
with their peers or with adults.

By: Natalie D.

M:\LDAYR\Public Relations\Public Education And Awareness\Brochures\LD Brochure For Parents.Doc

Common Subtypes of
Learning Disabilities

Succeeding with LD
~Dr. Isabel Shessel~

Dyscalculia:
A severe difficulty in
understanding and using symbols or functions
needed for success in mathematics.

Learn to communicate effectively.

Dysgraphia: A severe difficulty in producing

handwriting that is legible and written at an
age appropriate speed.

Develop a good support network (include

Dyslexia: A severe difficulty in understanding

or using one or more areas of language,
including listening, speaking, reading, writing,
and spelling.
Dysnomia:
A
marked
difficulty
in
remembering names or recalling words
needed for oral written language.
Dyspraxia: A severe difficulty in performing
drawings, writing, buttoning, and other tasks
requiring fine motor skills, or in sequencing the
necessary movements.
Nonverbal Learning Disability: A disability
in which a person has problems with visual
spatial organization, trouble understanding
nonverbal feedback in social situations, and
difficulties with arithmetic and scientific
concepts.
Specific Language Disability (SLD):
A
severe difficulty in some aspect of listening,
speaking, reading, writing, or spellings, while
skills in the other areas are age-appropriate.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD):
The
official term used in federal legislation to refer
to difficulty in certain areas of learning, rather
than in all areas of learning. Synonymous with
Learning Disabilities.

Learn to take risks.

family, friends and professionals).

Take responsibility.
Believe in Yourself.
Set goals for yourself.
Learn from failures; do not dwell on them.
Develop personal strategies for daily living
and learning.

Understand who you are, your strengths

and weaknesses.

Understand your rights and how to obtain

them within the system.

Like who you are.

Learn to laugh at yourself.
Never say, I cannot.