What are Specific Learning Difficulties / Disabilities?

 

Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) are experienced by people of average or of above average intelligence. SLDs are caused by a difference in the brain that affects how we receive, process and communicate information. Children and adults with Specific Learning difficulties have trouble processing and communicating information, because they hear, see and process things differently. SLDs do not present an intellectual disability. On the contrary, there are very gifted and highly intelligent people, who have a Specific Learning Difficulty – or to say it more appropriately, who learn differently. This applies especially to dyslexia.

 

Specific Learning Difficulties and Disabilities

 

If your child has been diagnosed with a disability or Specific Learning Difficulty or if you suspect that your child has an SLD it is important that you tell his/her teachers and inform Learner Support. There are ways we can accommodate for students who learn differently. If you intend to enrol a child with an SLD at Aotea College please request that Learner Support staff attend the enrolment interview or request an appointment with the HOD of Learner Support.

 

Dyslexia

 

Dyslexia affects a person’s reading and writing ability, their literacy and in many cases it affects also theirnumeracy skills. One in ten New Zealanders is affected by dyslexia. www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz And yet – dyslexic people can be very creative and successful in life; because they often think “outside the square as is shown by the number of dyslexic individuals who have made it to fame. Examples are Jamie Oliver, Celebrity Chef,  the late motor cycle designer John Britten, Peter Leitch, The Mad Butcher, Billy Graham, motivational Speaker and Boxing Coach (NaeNae Boxing Academy to name a few. For more info on inspirational New Zealanders with SLDs Click here. UK research shows that 35% of US entrepreneurs and 20% of UK entrepreneurs are dyslexic – with Sir Richard Branson a famous example. Entrepreneurs create jobs and wealth, both of which are important to drive economies forward. For more on this research Click here. Dyslexic individuals also contribute to business growth and productivity through thinking outside the square, and enlightened employers around the world are now specifically recruiting dyslexics for the creativity and alternative thinking they bring.

 

 

Dysgraphia

 

Dysgraphia presents writing difficulties, with regard to spelling as well as the physical process of writing, organising ideas

 

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/dysgraphia.html

 

Source: http://helpguide.org/mental/learning_disabilities.html

 

Please refer to the above website to access further information on warning sign and symptoms of specific Learning difficulties.
Also Speld New Zealand has an excellent website to obtain further information about SLDs http://www.speld.org.nz/

For specific information on dyslexia consult the SPELD website or the Dyslexia foundation:
www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz

For Specific information about Dyspraxia, please click here
http://www.dyspraxia.org.nz/

 

Other disorders that Impact on Learning, aside from SLDs, include disorders such as:

 

 “Altogether Autism” have information about seminars and workshop on the ‘calendar’ page of their website www.altogetherautism.org.nz or contact 0800 ASD INFO (273 463).

 

Other websites of interest include:

 

Fragile X Syndrome
http://www.fraxa.org/default.aspx

http://www.ygyh.org/fragx/whatisit.htm