NCLD, with the State of Learning Disabilities, has published a critical report that will further the debate over how to strengthen the programs and policies we have in place to serve and protect students and adults with learning disabilities.
- Thomas H. Kean, NCLD Board Member and former Governor of New Jersey
Overview
The State of Learning Disabilities: Facts, Trends and Indicators provides the authoritative national and state-by-state snapshot of learning disabilities (LD) in the United States, and their impact on the ability of students and adults to achieve educational success and employment. This publication also clarifies what a learning disability is and explains the common misperceptions associated with LD. See below for highlights and key take-aways or read the State of Learning Disabilities >
In the U.S.
The U.S. Survey of Income and Program Participation survey shows the LD prevalence rate among the U.S. population (ages 6 and older) to be 1.8%, totaling 4.67 million Americans.
Males are much more likely to have acknowledged learning disabilities than females.
The unemployment rate for those with LD was twice that of those without LD
In the Schools
Increasing the graduation rate of students with LD and reducing the dropout rate are among the many pressing issues for these students.
Students with LD experience disciplinary actions at a much higher rate than those without LD.
There are major disconnects between high school and postsecondary education which create obstacles for students with LD.
Often students with LD have lower aspirations regarding their own postsecondary education
Just under 11% of undergraduates reported having some type of disability.
Conclusions
As the nature of LD continues to be better understood and the particular needs of those with these neurological differences are more well defined, success in all aspects of life should become more achievable for a larger number of Americans with LD.
Both research and public policy must continue to support such advances. To learn more about the State of Learning Disabilities, download the publication or read it below.
Learning disabilities (LDs) are real. They affect the brain's ability to receive, process, store, respond to, and communicate information. LDs are actually a group of disorders, not a single disorder. Learning disabilities are not the same as intellectual disabilities (formerly known ... More >
What Are Learning Disabilities?
Learning disabilities (LD) are a group of varying disorders that have a negative impact on learning. They may affect one’s ability to speak, listen, think, read, write, spell or compute. The most prevalent LD is in the area of reading, known as d... More >
Truth be told, learning disabilities (LD) are not easily explained. While they are “specific” to any number of areas of learning (such as reading, math, and writing) they are also often overlapping or co-occurring, meaning that individuals with LD can have significant challenges ... More >
Even though some three million school-age children are classified as having specific learning disabilities (LD), this category of special need is often widely misunderstood. Surveys of both parents and educators confirm that many people mistakenly link LD with mental retardation and ... More >
My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
Have this document read to you. Once it is opened, click the play button 
in the menu at the top.
