What is learning differences and the future of special education?

The Initiative on Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education is an interdisciplinary research, training, and policy effort focused on improving the lives of millions of children worldwide with diverse learning needs.

What is the future of special education?

Key to the future is instilling a life-long commitment to learn and sustain iterative efforts to improve outcomes. Together, scholars, researchers, and PK-12 educators need to support rapid shifts in how the teaching force understands its work and the tools that they use to conduct practice.

What are learning differences in education?

Learning differences are the unique and individual ways in which some people process new information. In the United States, one in five students has a learning difference, meaning they experience challenges with organization, memory, or attention, especially in academics, such as reading, writing, and math.

What is the difference between learning disabilities and learning differences?

a learning disability constitutes a condition which affects learning and intelligence across all areas of life. a learning difficulty constitutes a condition which creates an obstacle to a specific form of learning, but does not affect the overall IQ of an individual.

What is the learning Differences Initiative Stanford?

The initiative for Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education supports and cultivates breakthrough research, policy innovation, and inclusive leadership development that significantly improve opportunities for children with diverse learning needs.

Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education

What are special learning differences?

A specific learning difficulty (SpLD) means that someone has a difference or difficulty with one or more certain parts of learning. Having a SpLD does not mean that children and young people cannot achieve and succeed in learning.

What is the most common learning difference?

Reading disability (dyslexia) - is the most common LD, representing at least 80% of all LDs, and results from deficits in phonologic processing.

Is ADHD a learning difference?

ADHD is not a learning disability. However, some of the symptoms may appear very similar to those of a learning disability. Rates of learning disorders are also higher among children with ADHD, while children with learning disorders are more likely to have an ADHD diagnosis.

Is dyslexia a learning difference?

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling. It's a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing. Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected.

How is learning difference different from mental intellectual disability?

An intellectual disability describes below-average IQ and a lack of skills needed for daily living. This condition used to be called “mental retardation.” A learning disability refers to weaknesses in certain academic skills.

What is an example of a learning difference?

Dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty in reading in an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader. While people with dyslexia are slow readers, they often, paradoxically, are very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.

What causes learning differences?

Genetic predisposition, problems during pregnancy, birth, or early infancy, as well as other general medical conditions may be associated with the cause of learning disorders.

How do you teach students with learning differences?

What are some current and future issues in special education?

What is the new term for special education students?

So instead of using “special needs,” we can use “students with disabilities” or specify specific support needs, such as “students who benefit from communication support.”

What are the cons of special education?

Is learning difference autism?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means it affects how the brain functions and processes information. In comparison, learning disorders typically affect how someone is able to understand new processes, especially in regards to reading, writing, mathematics, and other academic subjects.

Why is ADHD not a learning disability?

ADHD is not classified as a learning disorder because it doesn't impact specific academic skills. According to the DSM-5, a learning disability impacts specific academic skills, such as reading, writing, learning a new language, or math.

Is Autism is a learning disability?

Autism is not a learning disability, but around half of autistic people may also have a learning disability.

What are the top 5 learning disabilities?

The top five most common learning disabilities are dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia.

Is ADHD a form of autism?

ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.

Is anxiety a learning disability?

While anxiety can certainly make things like focusing and paying attention more difficult, anxiety is not a cause of learning difficulties, but rather one of many symptoms. Children with learning differences are significantly more likely to have challenges with anxiety than children without a learning difference.

How common are learning differences?

One in seven Americans has some type of learning difference, sometimes called learning disabilities, according to the National Institutes of Health. Difficulty with basic reading and language skills are most common. Reading problems are also reported in as many as 80 percent of students with learning disabilities.

Is Down's syndrome a learning disability?

People with Down's syndrome will typically have some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features. There are some health problems associated with Down's syndrome, such as heart problems and difficulties with sight and hearing, but these will not affect everyone with the condition.

How many learning differences are there?

The three main types of learning disabilities are: reading disabilities, written language disabilities, and math disabilities. Each type of LD can include several different disorders.