Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 August 2005 — Page 3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2005

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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Helping students with learning disabilities

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer

One of the biggest misconceptions about children with learning disabilities is that they can’t learn. In fact, with proper diagnosis, treatment and patience from parents and teachers, children who have a difficult time learning, can adapt and stay on track with their peers. For instance, dyslexia, a specific learning disability characterized by difficulty in learning to read is very manageable. “The biggest misconception about any reading disorder is that they can’t learn, but the truth is that they learn in a different way,” said Dr. Jim Jones, manager of child adolescence and child development at Methodist Hospital. “They may need some resource help and there may need to be some modifications to help them learn but they can be just as successful as other students.” Jones says the key to becoming a prosperous student is extra help. Whether the learning disability is dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or attention deficithyperactivity disorder. “What (a learning disability) means is that it may be a little more difficult for students to be successful and maybe learn in the same situations as others,” he said. “But if there are sufficient modifications in the classroom, support and resource help it should help that student be successful.” In more schools across America, students with learning disabilities are being placed in classrooms alongside their peers who learn normally. Supporters say it helps build confidence within those students that they are not “different” but one in the same with others even though they have a learning disorder. In order for the classroom to run smoothly, Jones advises teachers to be patient and treat every student the same. “First, teachers must be patient and secondly, if at all possible find out what you can on the background of the individual with the learning disability,” he said. “If at all possible within a teacher’s learning approach if you have to stop and help a student with a learning disorder, help other students as well. Make it a normal part of your teacher approach.” Jones also advises setting up one on one time with the student before or after class, and constant communication with parents.

Dyslexia (difficulty with reading) • Difficulty learning to read. • Difficulty identifying or generating rhyming words, or counting syllables in words. • Difficulty with hearing and manipulating sounds in words. • Difficulty distinguishing different sounds in words. • Slow, laborious oral reading. • “Stumbles” through longer words. • Reverses letters or the order of the letters when reading. Dysgraphia (difficulty with handwriting) • Unsure of right or left-handedness. • Poor or slow handwriting. • Messy and unorganized papers. • Difficulty copying. • Poor fine motor skills. Dyscalculia (difficulty with math) • Difficulty counting accurately. • May reverse numbers. • Difficulty memorizing math facts. • Difficulty copying math problems and organizing written work. • Many calculation errors. • Difficulty retaining math vocabulary and/or concepts. ADD/ADHD (difficulty with attention) • Inattention. • Variable attention. • Distractibility. • Impulsivity. • Hyperactivity. Difficulty with organization • Loses papers. • Poor sense of time. • Forgets homework. • Messy desk. • Overwhelmed by too much input. • Works slowly. Information taken from The International Dyslexia Association

THE GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON IMPAIRED AND DANGEROUS DRIVING reminds you to. .. Give your kid a boost

At a minimum, infants until at least one year old and at least 20 pounds should be in rear-facing car seats. Longer is better!

Kids between one and four years old (between 20 and 40 pounds) can be in forward-facing car seats.

All kids 4-8 years old must be restrained in some form of child restraint, which includes a belt positioning booster seat.

All kids 8-16 years old are required to be restrained in a child restraint system or safety belt in all seating positions in all vehicles.

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1-800-KID-N-CAR

www.in.gov/cji

www.preventinjury.org

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