Learning Disabilities Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month are recognized every year in October. The Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario is raising awareness to reduce stigma in order to allow people of all ages to get the services and supports they need to reach their potential.
Learning Disabilities (LDs) including reading difficulties like dyslexia affect one or more of the ways that a person takes in, stores, or uses information. It has been reported that 1 in 10 people in Ontario are impacted by LDs. As with most disorders their effects are different from person to person so it is important to take the time to get to know a person's learning profile in order to match effective strategies to their areas of need.
The month of October is a great opportunity to learn more about:
Dyscalculia: Dyscalculia is a Learning Disability that affects the ability to learn arithmetic and math. It may cause difficulty with counting, measuring quantity, recognizing patterns, telling time and more. It occurs in 5-10% of people, often co-occurring with Dyslexia.
Dyslexia: Dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty in learning to read, affecting about 20% of the general population. Read more about what a day in the life might be like for a child with dyslexia.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): DLD is a persistent language difficulty that impacts everyday interactions or school learning, but that is not associated with conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder. About 7% of children have DLD.
Dysgraphia: Dysgraphia is a disorder of written expression and incorporates various aspects, including spelling and handwriting (which includes both printing/manuscript and cursive writing).
Learn more: