Eric Tarkalson

Dr. Meyerhoeffer

Educ. 205

Discussion Board Disability

Good afternoon fellow co-workers. I’m glad that we could meet today and discuss the needs of one of
our young community members. I believe most everyone in today’s meeting has met Gabe H. We meet
here today as professionals, mentors, and most of all advocates for children with learning disabilities.
Gabe has completed the final tests and studies that will help us understand his struggle in learning and
more specifically in mathematics. It is our goal in this meeting, as professionals, to work together and
come up with a solution to help Gabe learn and comprehend his mathematical studies.

Through the Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Math Skills test that was performed we have
found that Gabe suffers from Dyscalculia. This is a condition that causes persistent problems with
processing numerical calculations. He is having difficulty mastering arithmetic facts by the traditional
methods of teaching, especially in the method involving counting, known as quantitative Dyscalculia.

Some studies believe there are environmental causes as well as neurological causes. I have met with
both Gabe and his parents on several occasions and have interviewed them both. I have received
information about the parents that could be part of the causes of Gabe’s difficulties. He has no support
at home. Often, both of his parent’s state “I was horrible at math! Thank goodness I don’t need to use it
in the real world.” This type of influence has given Gabe the idea that math isn’t very important, which
could give him the lack of interest and effort in the class. Gabe has also had a couple of experiences in
the class room where he asked questions and the other students laughed at him, causing his extreme
embarrassment. One other environmental cause could be that he had a year in 4th grade where his math
teacher was receiving chemo therapy for his lung cancer and there were multiple substitute teachers
that took over for the remainder 3 months of school. So, as we asses Gabe’s situation, please take these
factors into consideration.

The test show no neurological causes. However, we need to keep in mind, that these tests are not
perfect, there may be some information that we have not yet received to be put into the test. There is
no known family history of Gabe’s condition.

We do know that Gabe suffers from memory disorder. He has difficulty retrieving arithmetic facts, and
his rate of error when he does is very high. This usually is an indication of a malfunction in the left
hemisphere of the brain. This may be associated with a reading disorder. This further suggests an
inherited memory problem.

We need to use the tools that are at our disposal to help him. The teachers need to be aware of the five
critical factors that affect the learner.

1 The level of cognitive awareness.

2 Mathematics learning profile- We need to create a profile that helps us understand his learning
profile. Whether he is a Quantitative learner or Qualitative learner.

3 Language of Mathematics

4 Prerequisite skills

5 Levels of learning mastery.

We need to continue assessing Gabe in these 5 areas so we can find ways to help him. Some guidelines
That will help him would be:

1 Develop relevant practice exercises.

2 Build on his strengths.

3 Help build his confidence in the skills he does have and the importance of math.

4 Try to understand his learning style.

5 Help him make a connection with math and its real-life application.