National report on learning disabilities released

From The Examiner. Download your free copy of The State of Learning Disabilities 2009 (PDF, 32 pages).

The State of Learning Disabilities 2009 is a comprehensive report about the current status of children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities (LD) in the United States. It provides benchmark data to compare and contrast how people with LD are faring in school and work. The news is not good.

Overall, a huge disparity exists in spite of all the research done about learning disabilities. We know more than ever about learning disabilities and have solid scientific evidence about what it takes to teach children with learning disabilities. Unfortunately little if any of this valuable research has been put into practice in our public schools.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities offers this publication to policy makers, education professionals, media, parents and others to ensure that there is access to key LD data to and expand awareness about what LD is and whom the condition impacts.

National Advocate, Candace Cordelia points out the following highlights:

-- The identification rate of school-age students with LD has consistently declined for the past 10 years.

-- Learning disabilities disproportionately affect people living in poverty
People of all races are identified with LD at about the same rate (except people of Asian descent).

-- The cost of educating a student with LD is 1.6 times higher than a regular education student as compared with 1.9 for all students with disabilities.

"This report underscores that while important progress has been made in assuring a better future for individuals with LD, much needs to be done to improve the academic and employment outcomes of people with learning disabilities," states Dr. Donald Deshler, chairperson, NCLD Professional Advisory Board.