What Is a Learning Disability?

• An information-processing disability
• Affects the way someone takes in, remembers, understands and expresses information
• A neurological disability
• Something that affects 10-15% of the population
• Occurs when there are very large differences between a person’s learning strengths and weaknesses so that the weaknesses seem to continually get in the way and prevent the individual from demonstrating her strengths
• An invisible handicap
• A real disability that is recognized in legislation as a handicap
• A condition that can affect reading, writing, spelling, calculation, communication, memory, attention, organization, coordination and/or social competence
• Something that can have an ongoing impact on friendships, school, work,self-esteem and daily life
• A lifelong disability
• A distinct handicapping condition in the presence of average to aboveaverage intelligence
• A condition that varies in severity and type

Handout 10.2