Learning Disabilities
Communication Etiquette

1.      Since a learning disability is an invisible disability, it is rarely noticed without disclosure from the individual.  Since learning disabilities vary so much from person to person, be sure to ask how the learning disability affects that person.

2.      People with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence.  A possible indication that a person has a learning disability is when he or she does not perform in a way that is consistent with his or her intelligence.

3.      Often, a person with a learning disability is very creative and develops unique and innovative methods of analyzing situations and issues.

4.      Relate to a person on the basis of his or her strengths rather than weaknesses.  Assign work that utilizes those strengths.

5.      People who have perceptual learning disability may have difficulty receiving information through their senses.  This includes auditory, tactile, and visual perception.  Using multiple senses, such as reading and listening to what is being read out loud is often helpful.

6.      People with academic-type learning disabilities may have trouble reading or writing, and prefer to tape record information or directions.  Talking devices, such as computers and calculators are also useful. This includes dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyslexia.

7.      People with auditory learning disabilities may request that information be clarified or repeated.  Written instructions or directions are helpful.  Using short sentences, clear enunciation, demonstrations or both may be useful.  People with this type of disability often need to work in quiet surroundings.

8.      People with motor learning disabilities experience difficulty when their muscles react differently than expected to brain signals, resulting in a lack of coordination.  Repetition helps to lessen coordination problems.

9.      People with perceptual learning disabilities have difficulty with accuracy.  They may reverse numbers and place words or numbers in the wrong spaces on a form. Therefore, people with this type of disability may need their material checked for grammar and word or number reversal.

10.  People sensitive to tactile stimulation may not like being touched by others, including shaking hands.  They also may have trouble judging the amount of pressure they exert in such actions as holding objects.

11.  People with visual perceptual learning disabilities may have difficulty in finding objects: or they may lose them frequently.  Sometimes people with this disability might color code files, etc., for easy identification.

12.  People with learning disabilities must discover their own personal coping mechanisms to accommodate their specific learning disability.  But be prepared to provide support wherever possible.

13.  Be thorough, direct, and specific in communication.

If inappropriate behavior is observed or reported, it is important to tell the person what behavior is inappropriate and what changes need to be made.