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Center for Disability Information and Referral
Resources Guides > Specific Disabilities

Learning Disabilities Resource Guide

What is a learning disability?

"Learning disability" is a term that indicates difficulties with learning. Learning disabilities do not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of cognitive differences, of economical disturbance, or of socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds. Learning disabilities vary from person to person and can affect reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, and math.

Facts

  • Individuals are generally at or above average intelligence
  • Learning disabilities are very common; as many as 1 in 6 children in the U.S. have a learning disability according to the CDC
  • Males have twice the prevalence of any DD than females and more specifically have higher prevalence of ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, stuttering/stammering and other DDs

Common Learning Disabilities

  • Dyslexia - a language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding words, sentences, or paragraphs
  • Dyscalculia - a mathematical disability in which a person has a difficult time solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts
  • Dysgraphia - a writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space
  • Auditory or Visual Processing Disabilities - sensory disabilities in which a person has difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision

CeDIR Resources

Books

Alexander, C. (2012). Back to front and upside down! Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Bender, W. N. (2008). Learning disabilities: Characteristics, identification, and teaching strategies (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Bender, W. N. (2012). Differentiating instruction for students with learning disabilities: New best practices for general and special educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Cooper, J. W. (2010). Don't erase your dreams. United States: s.n..

Daiken, C. (2012). The voices of young adults with learning disabilities: Their perceptions of elementary and secondary schooling. Saarbrücken: Lap Lambert Academic Pub.

Dawson, P., & Guare, R. (2012). Coaching students with executive skills deficits. New York: Guilford Press.

Flanagan, D. P., & Alfonso, V. C. (2011). Essentials of specific learning disability identification. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Fletcher, J. M. (2007). Learning disabilities: From identification to intervention. New York: Guilford Press.

Giler, J. Z. (2011). Socially ADDept: Teaching social skills to children with ADHD, LD, and Asperger's. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Godwin, J. (2012). Studying with dyslexia. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Greenspan, S. I. (2010). The learning tree: Overcoming learning disabilities from the ground up. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press/Lifelong Books.

Gregg, N. (2010). Adolescents and adults with learning disabilities and ADHD: Assessment and accommodation. New York: Guilford Press.

Grossberg, B. N. (2011). Applying to college for students with ADD or LD: A guide to keep you (and your parents) sane, satisfied, and organized through the admission process. Washington, DC: Magination Press.

Healy, J. M. (2010). Different learners: Identifying, preventing, and treating your children's learning problems. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Horstmeier, D. A. (2012). Try reading again: How to motivate and teach older beginners, age 10 and up. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Kamhi, A. G., & Catts, H. W. (2012). Language and reading disabilities, 3rd ed. Boston: Pearson.

Kelly, K. (2011). Teaching literacy to learners with dyslexia: A multisensory approach. S. I.: SAGE Publications.

Konyndyk, I. B., Snyder, L. S., & Haley, M. H. (2011). Foreign languages for everyone: How I learned to teach second languages to students with learning disabilities. Grand Rapids, MI: Edenridge Press.

Lougy, R. A. (2007). Teaching young children with ADHD: Successful strategies and practical interventions for preK-3. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Maitland, T. L. (2011). Ready for take-off: Preparing your teen with ADHD or LD for college. Washington, DC: Magination Press.

Martin, M. (2007). Helping children with nonverbal learning disabilities to flourish: A guide for parents and professionals. London; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

McNamara, B. E. (2007). Learning disabilities: Bridging the gap between research and classroom practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.

Roffman, A. J. (2008). Guiding teens with learning disabilities: Navigating the transition from high school to adulthood (2008 ed.). New York: Random House.

Reid, G. & Green, S. (2011). 100+ ideas for supporting children with dyslexia. London: Continuum.

Schultz, J. J., & Hallowell, E. M. (2011). Nowhere to hide: Why kids with ADHD and LD hate school and what we can do about it. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Schultz, P. (2011). My dyslexia. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

Siegel, L. M. (2007). Nolo's IEP guide: Learning disabilities (3rd ed.). Berkeley, CA: Nolo.

Stern, J. M., Ben-Ami, U., & Pearce, C. (2011). Many ways to learn: A kid's guide to LD (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Magination Press.

Summer, D., & Doyle, W. (2010). Andi's antics: A girl's adventure with ADD. Mustang, OK: Tate Publishing.

Wong, B. Y. L. (2008). The ABCs of learning disabilities (2nd ed.). Amsterdam; Boston: Elsevier/Academic Press.

Videos

Entine, S., Yacker, F., Franco, V., Chinlund, J., & Lu, A. (2009). Read me differently [videorecording]. Berkeley, CA: Read Me Differently.

Habib, D., Carroll, K., National Center on Inclusive Education., University of New Hampshire., & DH Photography. (2012). Who cares about Kelsey? [videorecording]. Concord, NH: DH Photography.


Websites

The International Dyslexia Association
http://www.interdys.org/

LD Online
http://www.ldonline.org/

LD Resources
http://www.ldresources.org/

Learning Disabilities Worldwide
http://www.ldworldwide.org/default.html

National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/

National Research Center on Learning Disabilities
http://www.nrcld.org/index.html

SchwabLearning.org: A Parent's Guide to Helping Kids with Learning Disabilities
http://schwablearning.org/

Teaching LD: Information and Resources for Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities
http://www.teachingld.org/