The Path to Success for Students with Learning Disabilities
We know what learning-disabled students need to succeed. We have ample evidence from large-scale studies funded by federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Institute of Education Sciences. We now need the resources to implement effective services and support for those 2.3 million students with learning disabilities currently served in our public schools. The path to success consists of seven milestones that lead to better resource allocation and outcomes for students with learning disabilities.
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- Awareness – The prevalence of misinformation surrounding learning disabilities has led to numerous myths and misconceptions, hindering opportunities for success for these individuals. We must do better. We must stay well-informed, be skilled consumers of research, dismantle stigmas, and educate and advocate for those with learning disabilities.
- Growth Mindsets – Approaching learning from a growth mindset has been shown to improve motivation, academic self-concept, academic resilience, and academic performance of lower-performing students.
- Sufficient Funding – Funding, such as funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), support services such as early intervention and special education services for students with disabilities13. Without sufficient funds to appropriately serve students with learning disabilities, schools have to make difficult decisions about which programs and services to cut.
- Prepared Teachers – Considering students with learning disabilities spend most of their time in the general education classroom14, teacher preparation must focus on evidence-based instructional strategies to reduce reading, writing, and math difficulty.
- Universal Screening – The sooner students are identified and receive intensive instructional services, the better off they will be.
- Evidence-Based Interventions – When students with learning disabilities receive evidence-based intervention aligned to their needs, the national educational assessments and other standardized assessments will accurately portray their full academic potential.
- Data-based Decisions – Monitoring student progress using multiple sources of information helps educators adjust instruction as needed and determine if additional services are needed.