On the first day of my grad class my definition of LD, was simple: (LD is several different disorders that is a hardship for a learner and affects a person acquisition to hold information, organization skills, oral skills, reading, writing, and understanding information. These disorders impair brain/ psychological processes related to learning and everyday life.)

My definition was composed in ten minutes with a partner and was based on prior knowledge and a brief introduction by the professor. The Federal and NJCLD, definitions are calculated word by word and perhaps cost the government millions of dollars in man hours to come up with. The Federal definition hits on major points like “psychological processes” that affects language, spoken or written communication, which may manifest in the ability to listen, speak, read, write, spell, or math and calculations. Also the Federal definition and NJCLD definition includes handicaps such as brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. My definition doses not touch on or include any handicaps at all.

My definition needs to be revised buy expanding aspects I left out such as, severity of LD, social perceptions, when LD becomes evident, cultural, socio-economic, co-existing disabilities, and most importantly keys for success. My expanded definition: (LD is several different disorders that is a hardship for a learner and affects a person acquisition to hold information, organization skills, oral skills, reading, writing, and understanding information. These disorders impair brain/ psychological processes related to learning and everyday life. LD has different levels of severity and people from all walks of life are affected, but in every case LD interferes with the acquisition and use of one of the following skills comprehension/understanding, mathematics, reading, spelling, social interactions, and organization skills. LD and it’s impairments have no known cure and are generally life-long. Everyone is effective different over time, this depends allot on the demand of the environment and the individual’s as well. LD impairments may be apparent in the early years in pre-school because lack of language, motor skills, cognition, attention, and social behavior. Others slip under the cracks and make it to secondary school before being noticed. LD can come from genetic, other congenital or acquired by neuro-biological factors. LD is not caused by cultural, language differences, inappropriate instruction, socio-economic standing, or lack of motivation. Although any one of those elements will play a major role and impact a person with an LD. Frequently LD is a comorbid condition, including ADHD, behavioral and emotional disorders. Persons with LD could achieve success, but they require specialized interventions in school and at work appropriate to their individual strengths and need and are protected under the National Rehabilitation Act of 1973.)

Identify a question that you now have about the concept of learning disabilities. Why is this question important to you? Can learning disabilities ever be overcome? The study of LD is young, and over the last several decades we have seen major improvements in research and the very definition. We also saw many American become very successful with LD, and some one could say for example Thomas Edison, overcame his LD, because he invented the light bulb among other things. This question is important for me because I have an LD and benefit personal from any new research or development.