Myths About Students with Disabilities

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Myths About Students with Learning Disabilities

MYTH	Students with learning disabilities are below average in intelligence.
REALITY	By definition, students with LD must be average or above in intelligence as measured by an individual IQ test and have a significant discrepancy between their ability and achievement.

MYTH	Students with learning disabilities have dyslexia so they can't read.
REALITY	Dyslexia is simply one type of learning disability. Many students with LD do not have dyslexia which is a severe reading disorder.

MYTH	Students with LD are quick to reveal their problems so they can have an advantage in the classroom.
REALITY	Some students with LD are embarrassed about their problems and do not self-identify when they get to college. Self-disclosure is required to receive accommodations. Many students who do disclose wish to remain anonymous in the classroom.

MYTH	Students with LD usually have excellent social skills that help them compensate for academic problems.
REALITY	Many students with LD also have social problems due to difficulties reading body language and other subtle language cues that help most students understand how to appropriately interact with others. These problems mean some students with LD may have trouble asking faculty for clarifications or contributing to classroom discussions.

MYTH	Students with learning disabilities usually have problems with all their academic subjects.
REALITY	Students with LD have strengths and talents just like other students. This makes their disability even more frustrating since many people assume that because they have talents, they are just being lazy in other areas.

MYTH	Accommodations for LD students are usually quite time-consuming for faculty.
REALITY	Many accommodations, such as providing organized lectures, models of finished products, and uncluttered, fair tests, benefit all students. For individual-specific requests, such as extra time on tests, faculty can frequently receive help from the Academic Support Center.

Source: Teaching Students With Disabilities. LRP Publications, 2001.