Learning Disabilities

The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) defines learning disabilities (LDs) as specific neurological disorders that affects the way a person stores, understands, retrieves, and/or communicates information.

For more information, review the LDAC’s official definition of LDs

It will also be important to encourage your client and their parents to build awareness and understanding of Learning Disabilities and general strategies that will be helpful. Resources and community supports are available from the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada.

General Strategies

• General supports
• General suggestions for adolescents
• Supporting transitions

To support your clients learning disability, she/he will require the following supports information:

• Specific skill instruction
• Accommodations
• Compensatory strategies
• Self-advocacy skills
• Building Confidence 
• For recommendations for academic subjects see: subject specific resources

Depending on the profile of your client, you may want to include recommendations on:

• Strategies to enhance learning
• Strategies on cognitive functioning
• Strategies to improve social-emotional and behavioral functioning

Your clients parents may also be interested in exploring the following websites for more information:

• http://www.ldonline.org/ (resource for parents and teachers for learning disabilities)
• https://www.understood.org/en/hub (resource for parents and teachers for learning difficulties – U. S.)
• The following handout contains multiple worksheets that could be given to your clients and their parents in school: Learning Disorder School Worksheets

For more information on and targeted interventions for learning disabilities, see these handouts:

• Learning Disability Home Handout
• Learning Disability School Handout