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Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa-Carleton

Our Mission and Vision

The mission of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa-Carleton (LDAO-C) is to help the community thrive through the challenges of learning disabilities (LDs) and other learning differences by raising awareness, advocating, and offering programs and resources.

The LDAO-C is a valued partner in shaping an inclusive community where diverse learners are valued and have the tools and support they need to succeed.

What are Learning Disabilities?

A learning disability is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to either interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. Although the individual with a learning disability may have an average or above-average IQ, the disability becomes evident in both academic and social situations. The individual can have marked difficulties on certain types of tasks while excelling at others.

Learning disabilities may be divided into several different categories.

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Visual Issues

Poor visual memory (not remembering faces, people’s names, reversals in writing (41 instead of 14) Visual perception (difficulty in seeing the difference between similar objects such as b and d) Figure-ground discrimination (not being able to find the place to write your name on an application form)

Auditory Issues

Auditory memory (difficulty in remembering what has been said, information or instructions) Auditory discrimination (trouble telling the difference between similar sounds – for example, bee and pea) Auditory sequencing (confusion with number sequence, lists or directions) Auditory figure-ground (trouble hearing sounds over background noises)

Organizational Difficulties

Poor ability to organize time (not meeting deadlines, being late or too early, poor sense of time) Poor ability to organize tasks (not understanding the steps required to carry out a particular task) Poor ability to organize space (difficulty organizing or laying out a page in a written document) Impairment of ability to analyze (difficulty applying information in a new way or adapting to new circumstances)

Motor Difficulties

Eye-hand co-ordination (difficulties with handwriting, etc) Small muscle control (misjudging where to place things) Large muscle control (clumsiness, difficulties in certain physical activities)

Conceptual Issues

Difficulty interpreting non-verbal language (such as facial expressions or body language) Difficulty in anticipating the future (difficulty predicting consequences) Poor social skills and peer relations (not maintaining eye contact during a conversation or using an inappropriate tone of voice)

What Are the Impacts of Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities come in a variety of forms and affect people in different ways.

Academic Difficulties

Children and adults with a learning disability may struggle in all areas of school. For example, language processing disabilities can make reading and writing slow and challenging, and memory issues can result in a student having to reread a piece of text or listen to spoken instructions many times. These students also may need more time to process information before answering questions or replying when spoken to, which can result in difficulties contributing to classroom or group discussions. Someone with attention deficit disorder may also find it difficult to maintain focus, and paying attention is critical to learning. Organization and planning can also be impaired, resulting in difficulty keeping track of assignments or supplies and submitting work on time.

Social and Employment Difficulties

Individuals with a learning disability or ADD may have difficulty maintaining friendships, relationships or employment, as they may find organization, impulse control, planning and reading social cues to be a challenge. It’s important for each individual to understand their areas of strength and weaknesses, so they can better explain their needs to others in order to ensure personal and social success.

What are Learning Disabilities?

What Are the Impacts of Learning Disabilities?

If this sounds like something you or your family is dealing with, we can help! Check out our programs list or email for more information.