Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities research paper due and don't know how to start it? How about like this?

Education is often thought to be one of the most important accomplishments in an individual's life. It is often considered to be the means by which the person will be able to secure gainful employment and achieve success in life. Consequently, one's education is a valuable tool. However, there are varying degrees by which individuals are able to learn. Not all children can learn with the same efficiency as other children. But research shows that these children who are poor learners may have some type of disability. In fact, these children are able to learn with the proper training and accommodations. These children are referred to as having learning disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to discuss learning disabilities, as it exists currently.

History of Learning Disabilities

Having a learning disability has not been recognized as having a disorder for very long. In fact, in the early part of the twentieth century, children with severe learning disabilities were often confused with children who were mentally retarded. However, in the mid-1800s, the understanding that some people were not efficient learners was considered. In the later years of that century, schools in England were established to teach children with disabilities. The field of learning disabilities was not clearly established until the 1970s. Initially, individuals with such conditions were classified as having minimal brain injury (MBI). This label was changed to learning disabilities. This was also a period when the federal government mandated that all children had the right to an education, even those with severe disabilities. Thus, the 1970s became a turning point in terms of the legal rights of, attitudes toward, and understanding of children with learning disabilities. The knowledge in terms of learning disabilities and the use of accommodations has extended to college and work arenas.

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, one of the advances that has been made in recent times is a better assessment tool by which identification can be made with regard to accessing help for the individual. During the process of identification, this is initially begun by the child's teacher or parent, referring the child for testing in order to determine whether the student suffers from learning disabilities. Typically, if the parent does not give consent for the testing, then the process is stopped. If consent is given, then the child is tested. The testing process includes determining the child's intelligent quotient (IQ) and his or her skill level in several years. Depending upon a particular state's legal definition of "learning disability," if the discrepancy between IQ and the ability in such areas as reading, math, spelling, writing, etc., is severe enough, then the child is labeled learning disabled. In some states, this discrepancy must be at least one standard deviation (typically 15 points). In other states, this discrepancy must be at least two standard deviations. There are other methods of identification. These methods are referred to as discrepancy-based methods, deviation from grade level, or clinical-based methods. Other assessment procedures can further identify the child's problem area such as auditory processing or retention.