Barriers

Top Barriers for Children with Learning Disabilities 

If you are a caregiver, parent, guardian, or teacher of children with learning disabilities, you may have noticed that they often "fall behind" their peers, whether it be emotionally, socially, or educationally. In addition to the expected struggles of childhood development, these children face unique obstacles that require tailored forms of support to overcome, such as stigmatization, lack of aid from the school system, and a general lack of education about the disability itself. As a caregiver of a child in need of specialized care, you may feel unsupported yourself and encounter similar barriers or struggles. 

This post delves into the various barriers to provide a better understanding in order to address each with informed support. 

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A Touchy Subject:

Learning disabilities are highly stigmatized in society. Many children, and their parents, are ashamed and try to hide it in fear of social ostracism. Overall, those with learning disabilities are viewed as lazy, slow, and broken (Rothman & Cosden, 1995). The negative view impacts how children are raised, taught, and approached by society. As the children face more discrimination their fear of judgement grows and prevents them from reaching out and obtaining support. 

A School System that Doesn't Teach: 

There are a scope of different learning disabilities and degrees to which children may be affected by it. These include but are not limited to ADHD, ADD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and dyslexia. Each of these learning disabilities are different and require varying kinds/degrees of social support.

Insufficient information or understanding of your loved one’s learning disability can be a significant barrier to attaining support because a child may not be aware of what they are struggling with at all. This also stops them from receiving proper support and resources. For example, a child with mild ADHD may just need a small dose of medication and better organization skills. A student with severe dyslexia, however, may need a daily tutor and have to consistently memorize words.

You can become better informed and help your loved one receive proper social support by encouraging them to get tested by a psychologist who can determine what learning disability they may have, and how to move forward.

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In Summary, a negative perception of learning disabilities, a lack of understanding among children and caregivers, and the resulting inadequate aid are three main barriers faced by children with learning disabilities as they navigate adolescence. If parents fail to provide support and hold a negative view of learning disabilities, their child will develop low levels of self-worth from a young age (Rothman). Many parents struggle to understand their child's diagnosis and often believe that something is wrong and their child is inadequate (Taili). This leads to parental anxiety, and overprotection. In this type of household, the child will grow up to believe that they are broken and incapable of various tasks.If not met with proper support, rarely provided due to the global stigmatization, children with learning disabilities tend to view their diagnosis as an internal fault, thus reducing their self-worth. Studies have found that those who hold a largely negative association are more likely to have low self-worth that impacts their academic and social well-being.

Author: Maddie Blake