Keys to Success

There have been several research studies looking at keys to successful employment for individuals with learning disabilities. Many studies focused on individuals with learning disabilities who have had notable career success; the studies sought to identify the common factors that may have led to their success. Ginsberg, Gerber and Reiff in 1998 compared highly successful and moderately successful adults with LD with respect to income level, job classification, educational level, prominence in the field and job satisfaction. From this study, they developed a model for career success of individuals with disabilities. The main component of the model is the degree to which the individual is able to take control of their life.

"Taking control" has particular import for people with LD. First, the experience of growing up with LD often leads to a loss of control ...The autonomy of people with LD is undermined, especially as they find they have great difficulty with tasks that others take in stride...In the worst instances, people with LD may learn to be helpless. They feel that they do not control their own destinies; rather they are simply adrift. (Reiff 1998, p. 320)⁷

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The following is from the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Take note of the questionnaire that would be really effective to use with learners who are having difficulty identifying and understanding their strengths. The section following also helps learners determine their marketable skills.

Understanding Your Strengths

"I urge kids and young adults who have LD or AD/HD to view their struggles as an opportunity to learn about themselves. When being tested and evaluated for learning problems, it helps to view the process as a chance to learn about one 's strengths and weaknesses."