7) "How Hard Can This Be?"

The purpose of the video “How Difficult Can This Be,” was to teach people who often deal with children with learning disabilities what it feels like to be learning disabled. It also gave some insight into many misconceptions about learning disabilities.

Those with learning disabilities are not intellectually disabled, emotionally disturbed, or those with little opportunity or drive to learn. Learning disabilities are not just a school problem.  They are struggles that affect every aspect of the lives of those who have them.  These people deal with frustration, anxiety, and tension every single day.  They are not out to disrupt class or to cause problems for their families at home.  Because children with learning disabilities have trouble processing information, the regular pace of a class may be too fast for them.  When asked a question, immediately the mainstream children begin to process the answer; however, the child with a learning disability is still processing the question.  The result from this is that the child may seem disruptive in the classroom.  If you know that a child has difficulties, try to work out a system that they may be comfortable with.  If you call on the child, try to make sure that you are asking a question you are sure the child can answer.

In all honestly, however, this video taught me nothing that I already didn’t know about having a learning disability.  Why is that?  Simple; I am an individual with learning disabilities.  For my entire academic career I have had to work with both of my learning disabilities.  These include ADD and Dysgraphia; which is a processing disorder in which my brain processes information faster than it allows my hand to receive it.  Teamed together, these disabilities were often lethal through middle and high school.  By having trouble paying attention while also not being able to keep up with writing down notes often worked against me in class.

Still, despite my struggles I was able to be successful and learn to work with my learning disabilities, not have them work against me.  You need to remember that a child with a learning disability has to deal with their difficulties day in and day out.  There are 3 major things you must remember when working with a child with a learning disability; these are things I’ve learned first-hand as a student with learning disabilities and as an educator working with them.

1.      Remember that the greatest gift you can give a child with learning disabilities is time.  School can be frustrating and often causes a great deal of anxiety and tension.  Don’t stress them out more than they already are.  Give them ample time to answer and let them know when they are going to be prompted for an answer so they have time to prepare.

2.      Remember that these children often do not understand what they are doing wrong.  Do not tell them to look harder, bribe them to get an answer, threaten them by telling them that you will take privileges away, or blame them for their behavior by telling them they are not trying hard enough.

3.      Never put a child with learning disabilities under pressure because it does not help.  Do not tell them that the task they are struggling with is easy because it may not be for them.

The only true way to understand a student with learning disabilities is to have been a student with learning disabilities.  This is why I relate to them so well as a special education teacher.