Understanding Learning Disability, Learning Difficulties, and Special Needs
Quiz Questions and Answer Sheet
Instructions
for learners:
- 1. What are Special Needs in your words?
- "Special needs" describes physical, learning, behavioral, or emotional difficulties that require extra support, services, or accommodations to help someone thrive. However, the term can be inaccurate or even disrespectful, as it implies that support for a disability is "special" rather than a natural human need, and it lacks the legal recognition that the term "disability" provides. For a more respectful and accurate approach, it is better to refer to individuals with disabilities as a whole person, such as "a person with a disability" or "a child with autism".What "special needs" refers to:
- Physical, learning, behavioral, or emotional difficulties: that make every day functioning challenging.
- Requirements for specialized services, education, or accommodations: to ensure safety, access, and the ability to succeed.
Why the term "special needs" is problematic:- .by framing a person's needs as outside the norm, rather than simply as human needs that require support, according to Kids Included Together.
- .that masks discomfort with disability by using vague language instead of directly acknowledging disability, notes Parents magazine.
- .because it is not a legal term and does not guarantee legal rights or inclusion, unlike the term "disability" under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What to say instead:- Use "people-first" language to emphasize the person, not the disability.
- Say "a person with a disability" instead of "a disabled person".
- Use identity-first language if it is the preferred term for that individual, such as "an Autistic person".
- Physical, learning, behavioral, or emotional difficulties: that make every day functioning challenging.
(Learner’s own definition – space for answer)
2.
What is the difference, the same, and similarities between Special Needs,
Learning Difficulties, and Learning Disabilities?
(Learner’s own explanation – space for answer)
- This is a broad term encompassing a range of difficulties or conditions requiring additional support or accommodations for an individual to thrive in various settings (educational, social, etc.).
- It can include physical, mental, emotional, and learning disabilities or difficulties.
- The term emphasizes the individualized care and support necessary to ensure a person's safety, access, and success.
- Public amenities like schools, workplaces, and transportation are often required by law (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA) to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with special needs.
- These are challenges in specific areas of learning that are generally temporary or can be overcome with targeted interventions and support.
- They don't necessarily indicate a permanent or long-term disability and usually do not affect a person's overall intellectual ability (IQ).
- Examples include temporary struggles with reading, writing, or math that improve with extra tutoring, different teaching approaches, or extra time.
- According to the Center for Student Potential and Growth, learning difficulties can be situational, like struggling with learning due to a family emergency.
- These are neurological disorders that permanently affect the brain's ability to process and retain information related to learning.
- They are not related to intelligence; individuals with learning disabilities often have average or above-average IQs.
- However, they face persistent challenges in areas such as reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), math (dyscalculia), or processing information, requiring specialized support and accommodations.
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law providing for special education and related services to address learning disabilities.
- These disabilities are generally seen as lifelong, though individuals can achieve success with appropriate support.
- All individuals with learning difficulties and learning disabilities fall under the broader umbrella of having "Special Needs" because they require individualized support or accommodations to succeed.
- Learning difficulties can sometimes be indicators or early signs of potential learning disabilities, making early identification and intervention crucial.
- Both learning difficulties and disabilities can impact a person's learning and academic performance.
- Both require support and interventions to help individuals overcome challenges and reach their full potential, though the nature and intensity of support may differ significantly.
- There's a significant overlap between children with a disability and those with special educational needs. Therefore, a child or young person can have a special educational need (SEN), a disability, or both a special educational need and a disability (SEND).
In essence, "Special Needs" is the broadest term, encompassing any condition that requires extra support. "Learning Difficulties" are usually short-term, specific learning hurdles that don't affect overall intelligence. "Learning Disabilities," on the other hand, are permanent neurological conditions affecting how the brain processes information, necessitating tailored and often lifelong support to succeed in learning and beyond. The Parents League of New York highlights that the specific language used (e.g., learning disability versus learning difference) can be important due to legal definitions and protections.
3.
Is Dyslexia:
A) A reading difficulty
B) A writing learning difficulty
C) Both
Answer:
A
4.
Is Dysgraphia:
A) Writing difficulty
B) Reading difficulty
C) Both
Answer:
A
5.
Is Dyscalculia:
A) Maths difficulty
B) Writing difficulty
C) Both
Answer:
A
6.
What is ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?
(Learner’s own words – include difficulties with focus, attention,
impulsiveness, and how it affects learning)
7.
Which learning difficulty causes lack of comprehension and understanding?
Answer: Processing disorders or specific reading comprehension
difficulties (linked to dyslexia or language processing disorder)
8.
Which learning difficulty affects language, expressing oneself, spoken and
written language?
Answer: Language Processing Disorder / Aphasia / Dysphasia
9.
What type of learning difficulties are NOT Special Needs?
A) People with physical needs in a wheelchair
B) People with hidden learning difficulties without a wheelchair
C) Both
Answer:
A
10.
What are emotional behaviours and feelings?
A) Emotional mental health well-being
B) Learning Difficulties
C) Learning Disabilities
Answer:
A
11.
What does Special Needs mean?
A) Learning difficulties
B) Learning disabilities
C) Both
Answer:
C
12.
What does Special Educational Needs mean?
A) Difficulty with reading, writing and maths
B) Difficulty with personal care (showering, washing, dressing etc.)
C) Both of those
Answer:
C
13.
Name conditions that cause difficulties with home skills (e.g., cooking,
housework, shopping).
Examples: Learning Disabilities, Autism, Dyspraxia, Down’s Syndrome,
Severe ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, certain physical disabilities.
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