What is a learning disability?
A Learning disability is a common problem that affects approximately 5% of all school children. A learning disability is a life-long disorder that affects the way individuals with normal or above average intelligence collect, sort, store and express information. Thus, a learning disabled person may have problems with reading, word study, writing, or mathematical ability.
Individuals with learning disabilities are like other people. Their vision and hearing are usually normal. They do not usually have physical problems. They have average or above average intelligence. Students with learning disabilities have problems in specific basic skill areas, but may also have areas in which they excel.
The Wisconsin Statutes identify a learning disability as severe and unique learning problems due to a disorder existing within the child which significantly interferes with the ability to acquire, organize or express information. In school, these problems are seen as an impaired ability to read, write, spell, or arithmetically reason or calculate.
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