Learning Disability

Ministry Criteria

A learning disorder evident in both academic and social situations that involves one or more of the processes necessary for the proper use of spoken language or the symbols of communication, and that is characterized by a condition that:

a) is not primarily the result of:

      - impairment of vision;
      - impairment of hearing;
      - physical disability;
      - developmental disability;
      - primary emotional disturbance;
      - cultural difference; and,

b) results in a significant discrepancy between academic achievement and assessed intellectual ability, with deficits in one or more of the following:

      - receptive language (listening, reading);
      - language processing (thinking, conceptual-izing, integrating)
      - expressive language (talking, spelling, writing);
      - mathematical computations; and

c) may be associated with one or more conditions diagnosed as:

      - a perceptual handicap;
      - a brain injury;
      - minimal brain dysfunction;
      - dyslexia;
      - developmental aphasia.

Board Criteria

The student's general intellectual functioning is at or above the 9th percentile,

AND

the student's achievement in more than one of: listening comprehension, reading decoding, reading comprehension, spelling, written expression, mathematical computation and/or mathematical application is one standard deviation or more below expectation based on the best estimate of intellectual ability,

AND

the student's learning difficulties are associated with impairments in the psychological processes of attention, executive function, language processing, memory, perceptual-motor processing, phonological processing, processing speed and/or visual-spatial processing

Requirements

A written report from a member of the College of Psychologists (or an individual directly supervised by a member) which clearly delineates the severity of the learning problems, the impairment of psychological processes and the level of general intellectual functioning of the student.

Our Resources

Psychoeducational Assessment Term Explanations

Resource Team for Learning Disabilities Brochure

External Resources

General Resources:

http://www.ldao.ca - Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/teaching_t ... - for information regarding learning disabilities and ADHD
http://www.ncld.org/ - National Center for Learning Disabilities (U.S.A.)

Resources for Specific Needs:

Reading:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/n ... - 10 tips to help your child build vocabulary through new words
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/h ... - 10 Tips to help your child with homework
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/r ... - 10 Tips to help your son with reading
http://www.sickkids.ca/LDRP/About-reading- ... - Sick Kids Hospital examines reading disabilities
http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/par ... - information on teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle
http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/ - tips on helping struggling readers
http://www.starfall.com/ - Teach children to read with phonics - perfect for preschool, K-2, Special Education and English Language Learners.
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/balancedlitera ... - great ideas for Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6
http://www.abcteach.com/ - many educational activities including reading comprehension for students at reading level K-Grade 6 (see http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading- ... )
http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/cus ... - An online collection of animated, talking picture books for early readers
(Also see Handouts below)

Writing & Spelling:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds ... - experience what students with a writing disability goes through when they write – and learn about the stages of writing
http://www.spellingcity.com - free interactive online games with customizable word lists!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ - excellent introduction to keyboarding for youngsters with writing difficulties, with step-by-step coaching and practice

Math:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/elearning/homewor ... - Are you a Grade 7-10 student struggling in Math? - Get live, online math tutoring by an Ontario teacher!
https://www.khanacademy.org/ - excellent reinforcement of math skills through videos and highly interactive math exercises
http://oame.on.ca/CLIPS/ - help with math concepts such as fractions (based on Ontario curriculum)
(Also see Handouts below)

ADHD:

http://youtu.be/WroDEcG7tJc - Dr. Russell Barkley on ADHD
http://www.teachadhd.ca/abcs-of-adhd/Pages ... - for an introduction to ADHD

Executive Functioning:

http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabil ... - includes 'how-to' booklet for parents!
http://tinyurl.com/organizemybackpack - 5 Tips to keep your child's backpack organized (North Shore Pediatric Therapy)

Handouts:

Doing Mathematics with Your Child Grade K-6 2012

Reading and Writing with Your Child Grade K-6 2012

Rose Cook

Please contact Rose Cook at cookr@hwcdsb.ca