Educator
Portal · Learning
Disabilities (LD)
Some
adult learners may be challenged by learning disabilities
(LD). Learning disabilities may--or may not--have
been identified during previous schooling. Adult
educators are not expected to be LD specialists,
but all should know enough about LD to…
-
Recognize LD as a possible cause of learning problems
-
Provide a variety of classroom activities and
modalities of teaching that may respond to the
needs of LD learners and that will be helpful
for all students
- Work
with each student to identify learning strategies
that allow the student to capitalize on strengths
and compensate for weaknesses
-
Know that you cannot ask a student if he/she has
a learning disability
-
Know how to respond if a student self-discloses
a learning disability
-
Know when to seek help from an LD consultant
-
Know that students with diagnosed learning disabilities
can seek accommodations for GED testing
In 1999, the National Institute for Literacy published
Bridges
to Practice, a Research-based Guide for Literacy
Practitioners Serving Adults with Learning Disabilities.
Bridges to Practice is an ongoing project that provides
training and resources for adult educators. The
New Hampshire Adult Education Learning Disabilities
Committee includes educators who have received Bridges
to Practice training—Pat Nelson, Sue Katz,
Valerie MacIntosh, Linda Swenson, and Katie Delaney.
They have compiled this information for New Hampshire
adult educators.
