If He's So Smart Why Doesn't He Suceed?

Some of the smartest children in today's schools are not succeeding. It's frustrating because many of them have average to above average intelligence levels. Yet, many never reach their full potential, because their problems are overlooked or misunderstood - and adequate services are often unavailable.

That problem is a learning disability. A disability that touches over 10 million children in the United States alone. It affects their ability to read, write, speak, or compute mathematically. When a learning disability goes untreated, children lose self esteem and often suffer serious consequences as a result.

Learning disabilities are often referred to as "the hidden handicap." Teachers and parents incorrectly believe that laziness and a lack of motivation are the causes for the child's problems in learning. For this reason persons with learning disabilities often have to deal with the frustration of trying to "prove" that their invisible handicap is truly interfering with their ability to learn. It is essential that these children receive an accurate diagnosis as early as possible in their lives. The longer the disability remains misunderstood, the farther behind the child will become in school.

But there is hope. Something can be done. While a learning disability cannot be outgrown, it can be compensated for with proper diagnosis, attention, and intervention.

Awareness of a learning disability is the first step toward understanding it and accommodating for it. LDA of South Carolina is ready to assist parents and educators in disseminating information about learning disabilities and referrals for appropriate testing.

A Learning Disability Is:

A permanent disorder which affects the manner in which a person with average, above average, or gifted intelligence takes in, retains, and expresses information. Incoming or outgoing information may become scrambled as it travels between the eye, ear, or skin, and the brain.

Commonly recognized as deficits in one or more of the following areas: reading comprehension, spelling, written expression, math computation, problem solving, problems in organizational skills, time management, social skills, and language based or perceptual problems.

A Learning Disability Is Not:

What Is LDA?

Chartered in 1964 by a group of concerned parents, the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities was formed on behalf of children with learning disabilities. Now known as Learning Disabilities of Association of America, the association has over 50,000 members and state chapters in all 50 states. The association serves parents, professionals, and adults with learning disabilities.

What are LDA's Goals?

Learning Disabilities occur in many forms . . . visual, auditory, motor control, communication, logic, etc. Effective correction must include a total approach to the educational, physiological, psychological, and medical needs of the individual child. LDA believes in an interdisciplinary approach to these major goals:

		ENCOURAGE research in neuro-physiological and psychological aspects of Learning Disabilities.
		STIMULATE development of early detection programs.
		CREATE a climate of public awareness and acceptance.
		DISSEMINATE information widely.
		SERVE as an advocate.
		DEVELOP and PROMOTE legislative assistance.
		IMPROVE regular and special education.

Other Sites for Learning Disabilities:

AHEAD-Association on Higher Education and Disability

All Kinds of Minds

CH.A.D.D.-Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders

Get Ready to Read

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) 1997 Revisions

International Dyslexia Association (formerly Orton Dyslexia Society)

LD OnLine Home Page

LD Resources

Learning Disabilities Association of America

National Center for Learning Disabilities

NCIP - National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education

(NICHCY) National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities

PRO-Parents of SC

Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic

Schwab Learning

SC Department of Education, Office of Exceptional Children

Virtual Assistive Technology Center

Wrights Law