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Learning Disabilities FAQ
Q. What is a learning disability?
A. Learning disabilities (LD) are specific neurological disorders that affect the brain's ability to store, process, or communicate information. People with learning disabilities have at least average intelligence yet have trouble acquiring basic academic skills. LD is not a single disorder; the term refers to a group of disorders. LDs are not caused by economic disadvantage, environmental factors or cultural differences. In fact, there is frequently no apparent cause for LD. LDs are not the same as mental retardation, autism, deafness, blindness, behavioral disorders, or laziness.
Q. Have many people have a learning disability?
A. It is estimated that 15 million children, adolescents, and adults in the U.S. have LD. Currently, 2.9 million students (ages 6-21) are classified as having specific learning disabilities (SLD) and receive some kind of special education support. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, 13 percent of students in public school receive special education due to a disability; half, or roughly 61/2 percent, have LD.
Q. What are the most common types of learning disabilities?
A. The majority of all individuals with LD have difficulties in the area of reading. Some of the most common types of LDs are: dyslexia (affects reading, writing, and spelling); dyscalculia (affects math skills); dysgraphia (affects handwriting and spelling); dyspraxia (affects coordination); and information processing disorders (affect language development, reading, writing, and math).
Q: What are the two most common myths about LD?
A: The first is that a person with a learning disability cannot learn, and therefore should not be expected to achieve at the same level as his/her peers. In fact, people with learning disabilities are of average or above average intelligence. The second is that boys are much more likely than girls to have learning disabilities. In fact, learning disabilities occur about equally in males and females.
Q: What is the per-pupil expenditure for a school-age child with LD?
A: According to the Special Education Expenditures Project, per-pupil expenditures for students in special education range from $10,558 for students with learning disabilities to $20,095 for students with multiple disabilities. The average per-pupil expenditure for a typical regular education student is $6,556. Therefore, the average expenditure for students with LD is 1.6 times the expenditure for a regular education student.
Q: Who provides the funding for students who need special education services?
A: The cost of providing education for public school students, including those needing special education and related services, is primarily a local and state obligation. The federal government provides about 7 percent of all public education costs. For special education students, additional funding comes from IDEA grants. These additional funds currently cover approximately 20 percent of the excess cost of providing special education services to qualified students with disabilities.
Q: What are the laws that address LD?
A: There are four laws that address LD:
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)"This federal law provides for special education and related services for children ages three through 21 with disabilities. IDEA, which is based on the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, was last reauthorized in 2004. IDEA ensures that a free and appropriate public education based on the individual needs of students with disabilities is available. The law also guarantees rights for children with disabilities and their parents.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973"This civil rights law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public and private programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The law does not provide funding for special education or related services, but it does permit the federal government to take funding away from programs that do not comply with the law.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)"This civil rights law protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace, as well as school and other settings. ADA does not provide funding for services or accommodations. 4. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)"While not offering any protections specific to students with disabilities, NCLB is a federal law that requires significant accountability measures for elementary and secondary education. It is important legislation for students with disabilities because it ensures that they also reach high academic standards, just like other children in America's public schools.
Q: What are the two most common errors in stories about LD?
A: Growth: It is often reported that the number of students with learning disabilities is growing rapidly. This is not correct. In fact, the increase in the number of students in the IDEA category "Specific Learning Disability" has been less than the increase in the total number of students eligible for special education services. What is true is that other categories of disability are growing rapidly, most significantly the category of "Other Health Impairment," which includes children with chronic or acute health problems, such as asthma, diabetes, AD/HD, epilepsy, lead poisoning, or sickle cell anemia. (Note: AD/HD (over-activity and impulsivity) frequently co-exists with LD, but is not considered an LD.)
Cost: It is often reported that the federal government is responsible for paying the excess cost of educating students with disabilities, but this is not true. In fact, the federal contribution, as authorized in the IDEA, is 40 percent of the national average per-pupil expenditure for public school students. However, the federal government provides less than half that amount.
Q: Where can I find additional information and statistics on LD?
A: Our press kit document "Key Research on Learning Disabilities" includes information about and links to a wide range of reports and studies that can provide additional information and statistics.
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