Fighting Prejudice and Discrimination Against People With Learning Disabilities

Framework

In any educational context, there is a wide range of interests as well as learning strengths and areas of difficulty. A specific learning disability can stand in the way of a student’s positive experience of school and learning. And, if the student does not receive necessary support, it can hamper academic achievement. Moreover, even when learning disabilities are diagnosed and children receive help, these students may face discrimination by teachers and their peers due to underlying assumptions regarding the meaning of intelligence. In these lessons, students will work toward understanding what it means to have a learning disability. The goal is make them aware of prejudice and discrimination aimed at those with learning disabilities.

Professional Development

Teachers can find helpful information on some of the causes of learning differences, as well as tips on how to help students, at “All Kinds of Minds [1].”

The Learning Disabilities Association of America [2] provides background on learning disabilities as well as up-to-date legal information and research on this theme.

Useful discussion on the dangers of loose usage of terms like “learning styles,” can be found in these TDSi videos:  Cautionary Issues with Learning Styles [3] and Warnings Against Learning Styles [4].

Early Grades [5]

Middle Grades and High School [6]

Standards [7]

Activities and embedded assessments address the following standards (McREL 4^th edition [7])

Language Arts

Standard 1.  Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process

Standard 2.  Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing

Standard 6.  Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of literary texts

Standard 8.  Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes

Standard 9.  Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

Thinking and Reasoning

Standard 1.  Understands and applies the basic principles of presenting an argument

Standard 6.  Applies decision-making techniques

Working With Others

Standard 1. Contributes to the overall effort of the group

Standard 3.  Works well with diverse individuals and in diverse situations

Standard 4.  Displays effective interpersonal communication skills

Self-Regulation

Standard 2.  Performs self-appraisal

Visual Arts

Standard 3.  Knows a range of subject matter, symbols, and potential ideas in the visual arts

Standard 4.  Understands the visual arts in relation to history and cultures