Learning My Way

1. Learning My Way Lynn Ziraldo, Executive Director, LDAYR 905-884-7933, ext. 25 Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region M\LDAYR\PublicRelations\PublicEducationandAwareness\Presentations\2011\Learning My Way

2. Disabilities in Ontario • Just over 15.5% of Ontarians have a disability, or 1 in every 7 people • People with disabilities, along with their families and friends, take part in the everyday activities like everyone else • By providing services that welcome people with disabilities, better service is offered to everyone. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

3. Understanding Disabilities There are many kinds of disabilities. They can be visible, hidden, permanent or occur only at certain times. Here are some types of disabilities: • Deaf-blind • Hearing • Intellectual • Developmental • Learning • Mental health • Physical • Speech/language • Vision Disabilities vary. Being hard of hearing is different from being Deaf. Having low vision is different from being blind. A disability can happen to anyone at anytime. Some people are born with a disability. For others, the disability results from an illness or an accident. Sometimes it happens because the person is getting older. In fact, as our population ages, many of us may eventually face some kind of limitation. According to Statistics Canada, by 2031, seniors will account for between 23% and 25% of the total population. That’s double the current senior proportion of 13%. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

4. Learning Disabilities (LDs) in Canada • It is estimated that 5% to 10% of Canadians have a Learning Disability • LDs are lifelong conditions. Also, no two individuals with learning disabilities are identical, nor do they portray identical symptoms. • 15-30% of all participants in job training programs have learning disabilities. •  Adults and adolescents with LDs are at risk of developing mental health problems. 74% of people with clinical depression also had significant learning problems. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

5. Myths and Facts Myth: Accommodations in the workplace give an advantage over other employees and/or candidates. Fact: Accommodations allow employees with learning disabilities to be as successful at their job as others are at theirs. They allow these employees to compete on a level playing field. Fair is not always equal. Myth: People with LDs cannot learn. Fact: People with LDs are smart and can learn. LDs mean learning in different ways. Myth: People with LDs are just lazy. Fact: People with LDs often have to work harder but the results may not reflect their efforts. Some people with LDs may become discouraged because they have struggled so hard, and they may appear unmotivated or lazy. Myth: All LDs are outgrown by adulthood. Fact: LDs tend to be noticed most often in school, but can affect all areas of life. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

6. We may not realize it, but most of us work with someone who has a learning disability. Imagine that you are at a seminar with 100 people. As you look around, 5 to 10 people in this group are likely to have a learning disability. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

7. LEARNING DISABILITIES: a new definition“Learning Disabilities” refers to a variety of disorders that affect the acquisition, retention, understanding, organization or use of verbal and/or non-verbal information.These disorders result from impairments in one or more psychological processes related to learning, in combination with otherwise average abilities essential for thinking and reasoning. Learning disabilities are specific not global impairments and as such are distinct from intellectual disabilities. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

8. The Simple AnswerLearning Disabilities can affect how a person interprets, remembers, understands and expresses information. It’s important to know that people with learning disabilities are intelligent and have abilities to learn despite difficulties in processing information. Living with a learning disability can have an ongoing impact on friendships, school, work, self-esteem and daily life. People with LDs can succeed when solid coping skills and strategies are developed. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region 8

9. People with LDs are intelligent and can learn! Learning Disabilities are brain based problems that affect one or more ways that a person takes in, stores or uses information. LDs can interfere with learning basic skills such as reading, writing and math. They can also interfere with higher level skills such as organization, time management and social skills. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

10. The difficulties they experience are due to impairments in one or more of the psychological processes related to learning: • Phonological processing (identifying and manipulating speech sounds) • Working memory (holding information in mind while also using the information) • Processing speed (speed of taking in, using, or pulling out information) • Language processing (understanding and expressing information using words) • Executive functions (planning and organizing) • Visual-motor processing (carrying out hand-eye activities) Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

11. LDs come in many forms and their effects are different from person to person. People with LDs have strengths but also have areas of weakness that affect one or more of the following: • Getting information to the brain (input) • Making sense of this information (organization) • Storing and retrieving information (memory) • Getting information back out (output) • Because LDs do not affect all areas, people with LDs can make up for weaknesses by using strengths in other areas. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

12. What do LDs affect? No two LDs are the same. LDs vary greatly in form and intensity, and can affect one or more of the following areas: ACADEMICS SOCIAL LIFE DAILY LIFE Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region 12

13. Academics • Reading (sometimes called dyslexia) • Understanding what is read • Recognizing words • Breaking words down into their individual sounds • Reading fluently • Writing (sometimes called dysgraphia) • Handwriting • Putting thoughts on paper • Organizing written work • Spelling and grammar • Math (sometimes called dyscalculia) • Doing arithmetic and calculation • Using symbols • Understanding visual-spatial relationships • Learning number facts Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

14. Daily Life Social Life • Organizing and prioritizing • Planning and decision making • Learning to drive • Finding the way in an unfamiliar environment • Following multi-step instructions • Finding things on a cluttered desk • Interpreting graphs, charts or maps • Seeing the ‘whole picture’ or knowing what details are important • Understanding sarcasm • Figuring out how someone is feeling from their body language or facial expressions • Understanding the unwritten social rules • Taking part in groups • Understanding tones of voice • Taking turns in conversation Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

15. What can it feel like to have LDs? • LDs can affect people differently. People may struggle with: • Their work not reflecting their effort • Keeping up with work colleagues or friends • Being seen as lazy and not trying hard enough • Feeling frustrated • Feeling a lack of confidence • Feeling stupid even though they are intelligent • Feeling that people in their lives don’t understand them • Not wanting to look different from their colleagues or peers • Feeling shame (about having a disability) • Being the target of bullies • Feeling isolated and lonely Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

16. These situations may lead to: • Low self-esteem • Lack of confidence • Feeling dumb • A sense of failure • Appearing less motivated • Loneliness • Social withdrawal Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

17. Learning Disabilities • Learning disabilities can result in a host of different communication difficulties for individuals. They can be subtle, as in having difficulty reading, or they can be more pronounced. They can interfere with a person’s ability to receive, express or process information. • You may not be able to know that someone has a learning disabilities unless you are told. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

18. Visual PerceptionWhat is this a picture of? Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

19. Does it help if the photo is in more detail? Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

20. Does it help if the image is blackened-out? We all look at the same image but may not all process the information in the same way. Looking at the image “in different ways” allows everyone an opportunity to process the image of the Dalmatian. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

21. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

22. From the previous slide… One in ten people have a Learning Disability. It can be hard to diagnose because you can’t see it. It’s invisible. It’s a lifelong condition. A child with LD grows into a youth with LD who then becomes an adult with LD. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

23. Guess Who? • Clue 1: Has a trade mark for his dancing skills • Clue 2: The only person that knows how to bring “Sexy Back” • Clue 3: Dated Britney Spears in his younger years Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

24. Justin TimberlakeRevealed he has ADHD Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

25. Guess Who? • Clue 1: an American actor that was popular in the 1980’s for his roles in teen movies • Clue 2: Well known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Shepherd (Dr. McDreamy) on the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy • Clue 3: He has appeared in several film roles, including The Emperor’s Club, Freedom Writers, Enchanted and Made of Honor. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

26. Patrick DempseyDiagnosed with Dyslexia as an adult Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

27. Guess Who? • Clue 1:The star of the movie HANCOCK • Clue 2:Rose to fame as a rapper under the name of the Fresh Prince in the late 1980’s, when he starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air • Clue 3:Other notable roles include Agent J in Men in Black, Detective Del Spooner in I-Robot, and starred in The Pursuit of Happiness Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

28. Will SmithRevealed he has ADHD Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

29. Guess Who? • Clue 1: Stared in hilarious movies like, Old School, Wedding Crashers and Dodge ball • Clue 2: Is one of the tallest actors in Hollywood at 6 foot 5 inches • Clue 3: established himself as one of Hollywood’s biggest names in comedy Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

30. Vince VaughanDiagnosed with ADHD Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

31. Famous People with LDs and/or ADHD • Athletes: • Bruce Jenner • Magic Johnson • Carl Lewis • Greg Louganis (Olympic Diver) • Nolan Ryan (MLB All Star Pitcher) • Pete Rose (Baseball) • Babe Ruth (Baseball) Actors & Movie Industry Figures: Jim Carey Tom Cruise Patrick Dempsey Walt Disney Whoopi Goldberg Dustin Hoffman Jack Nicholson Ty Pennington (Extreme Makeover Home Edition) Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) Will Smith Steven Spielberg Sylvester Stallone Robin Williams (Happy Feet) Henry Winkler (The Fonz) Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

32. Famous People with LDs and/or ADHD Musicians: Christina Aguilera Beethoven Harry Belafonte Cher John Lennon (The Beetles) Tony Bennett Politicians: Winston Churchill Benjamin Franklin John F. Kennedy Robert Kennedy • Scientists: • Alexander Graham Bell • Thomas Edison • Louis Pasteur • Others: • Hans Christian Anderson • Leonardo da Vinci • Henry Ford • Tommy Hilfiger • Rodin Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

33. These individuals all have a learning disability! They all state that they have been successful because of their learning disability “A Different Way of Learning Can Lead to Success” Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

34. Can You Read This? DON’T THE LETTERS SEEM TO FLOAT ALONG THE PAGE?! Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

35. How Many Faces? Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

36. Find Seven Dolphins Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

37. Now Find Them… A LITTLE HELP CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

38. Can you decode this? Wenwehvdivklteadekdnwudz, wee myte Rekireodio inn puttfer thaw pasauge two mayk cents Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

39. This is impossible to decode…just like it is, for some students who have learning disabilities, to decode written directions. When they get to use their preferred method of learning they can then begin to understand the material being taught. Wen wehv divkltea dekdn wudz, wee myte rekire odio inn putt fer thaw pasauge two mayke cents When we have difficulty decoding words, we might require audio input for the passage to make sense. A pupil who has difficulty with spatialperception will definitely have difficulty decoding words. Students challenged with visual perceptions often have strengths with auditory perception. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

40. How Many Legs Does the Elephant Have? Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

41. “The toughest part about having a learning disability is not that I don’t understand…its getting other people to understand.” Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

42. Understanding Barriers Barriers are obstacles – things that stand in the way of people with disabilities doing many of the day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted. Barriers make shopping, working, going to a movie or taking public transit difficult, sometimes impossible, for people with disabilities. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

43. Accommodations Accommodations are adjustments or special equipment that allow people to compensate for their LDs. Many people with LDs find that using computer software really helps them. Technology is one type of accommodation. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

44. Because no two people have the same set of symptoms of learning disabilities, solutions are wide and varying according to the individual. Most people are familiar with accommodations for physical disabilities such as wheelchair ramps because they are visible. Accommodations for learning disabilities can also be simple solutions, such as allowing more time to complete certain tasks or arranging for different training presentations. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

45. Accommodations Accommodations go a long way to providing a supportive environment for employees with learning disabilities. But, because most people want to be part of a team and have a real sense of belonging, it is important that the business ‘atmosphere’ also receive attention. When all employees are valued, respected and supported, your workplace becomes a workplace of choice, not of necessity. • Your workplace needs to be inclusive and welcoming • Ask yourself what you would want if roles were reversed • Managers/supervisors and co-workers are often the primary providers of support • Individuals with LDs can become full and contributing members of your workforce • Confidentiality is paramount. Raising awareness must be done through company/organization policy manuals, packages, handouts, etc. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

46. Solutions & Ideas that Work Auditory Perception Problems Difficulties in receiving and/or processing accurate information from a person’s sense of hearing may be eased by the following actions: • Reduce background noises (telephones ringing, noisy machinery, background conversations) • Allow sufficient time for instructions or questions to be repeated • Encourage the employee to sit near the speaker at a meeting, speak slowly and deliberately, allow time for the employee to process information • Provide a written copy of instructions/presentations • Demonstrate exactly what needs to be done instead of describing the task in vague terms • Review steps with your employee to ensure accuracy and comprehension • Encourage note taking Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

47. Solutions & Ideas that Work cont’d Visual Perception Problems The inability to see likenesses and differences in shapes and forms – as in letters, words, numbers and graphs–can result in difficulties taking in and/or processing information from the sense of sight. Some can be significantly overcome by the following suggestions: • Provide a room/cubicle/workstations with minimal physical distractions • Modify a written test or training materials (provide in an alternative format) • Encourage the use of tapes, CDs or videos for training purposes • Provide voice-activated computers for written material • Allow assistive technology • Rearrange a schedule to give sufficient time to complete the task • Make use of oral presentations and discussions for better comprehension. Verbal instruction is extremely important. Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

48. Solutions & Ideas that Work cont’d Academic Problems There are many solutions you can allow or provide to ameliorate the difficulties in reading, writing, spelling and doing mathematics: • Put information on tape • Allow extra time for written tests • Allow the employee to read test questions aloud • Provide verbal instructions that are clear and simple • Demonstrate exactly what needs to be done • Use a coloured pen to highlight key information or instructions • Allow assistive technology • Allow extra time for reading and writing Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

49. Solutions & Ideas that Work cont’d Motor, Temporal and Organizational Problems Some effective practice solutions include: • Suggest the use of an alarm, bell or timer, or verbal response as reminders • Allow extra time to complete the job • Allow work to proceed at the employee’s own pace • Allow extra time to process information • Provide one-on-one time management training Attention Problems Some effective practice solutions include: • Allow extra time for the worker to “get the point” • Paraphrase information to convey the message • Speak clearly or provide written information; don’t expect hints and body gestures to convey your information • Maintain eye contact when possible Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region

50. Consider Assistive Technology Assistive technology means any item, piece of equipment, product or system – whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized – that directly assists, maintains or improves functional capabilities of individuals of learning disabilities. • For difficulties in writing and editing: a computer with a word processor that has a spell checker, grammar and style checker, as well as editing/proofreading help and a note-taker • For difficulties in reading: taped instructions, taped lectures, taped books, readers’ services, page scanner with speech ability of computer program to read back the scanned page • For organizational difficulties: electric date books, day planner • For difficulties with mathematics: electronic calculator, talking calculator, graph paper, sample list of steps to follow Reprinted with Permission from Learning Disabilities Association of York Region