It is important to remember that when working with either of these two groups, we must focus on what they "can do" as opposed to what they "cannot do". We know that the limited intellectual potential of individuals with intellectual impairments makes it difficult for them to transfer information. This is why it is important to provide learners with appropriate teaching instruction and avoid setting individuals up for failure by giving them strategies they can't use.

Causes of Learning Disabilities

"It is obvious that anything which affects the brain will affect learning. It is now well substantiated that factors within the brain itself, genetic influences as well as influences in the environment can all have an impact on learning and consequently on learning disabilities. In the area of reading disabilities, for example, careful research has estimated that about half of the individual differences in these conditions are related to genetic factors."²²

Research tells us that learning disabilities can be caused by genetics, congenital factors (originating prior to birth) and acquired neurobiological factors (an illness or injury that affects the brain early in life). Studies that suggest learning disabilities are caused by genetic factors are greatly substantiated by the number of individuals in families who are identified with similar learning disabilities. These similarities can be seen particularly among siblings from the same family.

Congenital factors (originating prior to birth) are linked to being causes of learning disabilities. During pregnancy, it is well established that both prescription and non-prescription drugs (especially alcohol and nicotine) can contribute to disorders which may include learning disabilities. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects are the best-known syndromes in this group. Infections of the mother during pregnancy (such as rubella or measles) can also negatively affect the fetal brain, leading to different types of learning difficulties, depending on the nature of the infection and the gestational period during which it occurs.