In this fact sheet, the authors examine the impact of learning disabilities, which affect more than 10 percent of Canadians.
Learning disabilities affect an individual's ability to acquire, process, and interpret information, but they do not reflect a lack of intelligence. With the right learning strategies and supports, the challenges of learning disabilities can be overcome.
The authors note that without early childhood intervention, learning disabilities can affect literacy for life. Adults with learning disorders are disproportionately represented in the prison and welfare systems.
They call for accessible assessment and diagnosis of learning disabilities for people of all ages; the provision of funding to develop and maintain effective teaching methods, resources, and programs; and initiatives by the federal and provincial governments to develop services and programs in the educational, health, legal, and financial environments.
This document is part of a series prepared by the Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN) to draw attention to a variety of literacy-related topics.
http://www.nald.ca/library/learning/clln/fact_sheets/learning_disabilities/learning_disabilities.pdf
http://library.nald.ca/item/11129
