Learning Disabilities Awareness Month

October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month across Canada, a fine time for a new initiative on the blog.  Starting today, we are going to post a little bit of information every day.  We'll share articles, links, facts and stories for anyone who is living with or supporting an individual with learning disabilities.  That's a lot of posting, so we want your ideas, stories, thoughts and feedback.  If you have a suggestion or would like to write a guest blog, please email me at rhonda.brown@bridgeway-academy.com.  I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

While we gear up, I thought I'd share a few statistics on learning disabilities in Canada. These statistics were compiled by the Learning Disabilities Association of Windsor-Essex County in Ontario. 

Rhonda

 •  It is generally accepted that learning disabilities affect 10% of the population. This makes learning disabilities the signal largest disabled population. Learning Disabilities are neurological processing disorders that affect all aspects an individual’s life. An individual with learning disabilities has average or above average intelligence.

•  As learning disabilities are often genetic, families may be affected negatively by learning disabilities. Adults who have not received appropriate and timely support and training typically hold a job for 3 months. Therefore, many families affected by learning disabilities are financially disadvantaged. Many are in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program-Income Maintenance, Ontario Works and/or the National Child Benefit.

•  The South West Region Children’s Mental Health Study indicates that children with severe learning disabilities, ADHD and accompanying emotional problems are one of the groups not currently receiving adequate service. Almost 50% of adolescent suicides had been previously diagnosed as learning disabilities. The single most commonly sited factor for this desperate act is low-self esteem arising from school failure. Decreasing the development of behavioral and emotional problems related to untreated learning disabilities is essential for promoting successful productive adults with learning disabilities.

•  Research indicates that 62% of high school graduates with learning disabilities are unemployed one year after graduation and that 35% of students with learning disabilities drop out of school (twice the rate of their non-disabled peers). More than one third of the functionally illiterate population copes with learning disability.