Children and adults with learning disabilities often feel “stupid” or uneducated, when what is true is that there are specific, diagnosable areas where their learning is simply impeded by a disability. Those who suffer from a learning disability may feel inadequate due to their difficulties with certain tasks in everyday life (reading, writing, mathematics). In fact, what is most often true is that those with learning disabilities are intelligent, gifted, creative individuals who struggle with particular areas of mental processing. When properly diagnosed and treated, those with learning disabilities can learn ways of coping with and compensating for their areas of difficulty.
In addition to helping them learn, this way of working with and addressing specific learning disabilities can assist children and adults to claim their areas of strength and find their self confidence. Frequently, learning disabilities are masked by depression, anxiety or acting out and so children (and adults) with learning disabilities may become labeled “troublemakers” when what is true is that they are expressing frustration with their inability to process and learn in particular areas.