Having a specific learning disability is an inherent, life long condition that can affect friendships, school, work, self-esteem or daily life.  Many adults with learning disabilities have graduated from high school, college, trade schools or university, becoming successful in business, the arts or in their chosen profession. But for many, success has not been easy.  Even though they are intelligent, some adults are conditioned to believe that they are stupid, lazy and defeated, resulting in frustration, disappointment, low self-confidence and failure.WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY?It is a disorder that affects individuals of potentially average to above average intelligence by interfering with the central nervous system and its ability to process information.  Learning disabilities affect the way in which an individual takes in, remembers and understands information, as well as how an individual expresses that knowledge.Some adults may experience problems in one or more of these general areas:

Memory          Reasoning          Coordination         Communication          Social Competence

COMMON SIGNS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Adults with learning disabilities may excel in the following areas:

Imagination
Creativity
Motivation
Perseverance
Spoken language
Verbal information
Visual information
Mathematics

Or they may have difficulty in the following areas:

Reading, writing, spelling, communicating and calculating
Following written instructions
Expressing ideas in writing
Completing job application forms
Finding or keeping a job
Budgeting and managing money
Managing time and activities
A short attention span, restlessness or hyperactivity
Carrying out simultaneous tasks
Remembering and following the sequence of instructions
Breaking tasks down into segments
Following verbal instructions
Understanding appropriate social behaviour
Poor coordination and spatial disorientation
Classification and organization of information
Problem solving strategies

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES?

You are not alone!  Learning disabilities affect approximately 1 out of every 5 to 10 people.  This is more than 2 million Canadians.

IS IT TOO LATE?

Before 1980, very little was done to help adults with learning disabilities. What can you do?  If solid coping skills and compensatory strategies are not developed, the learning disability may continue to interfere with work, education and social relations.  By developing skills and taking advantage of new technologies adults with learning disabilities will be able to succeed.  Remember, it is never too late to ask for help.

USING SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES

You can make a difference by taking control of your life and achieving your potential.

Develop coping strategies
Know and manage your specific learning disability
Find other adults with learning disabilities for sharing strategies and information
Be assessed by a professional trained in learning disabilities (neuro-psychologist, educational psychologist, etc.)
Get counselling
Develop your self-esteem through your strengths
Set goals based on your abilities
Know and use technology to compensate for weaknesses
Know your legal rights

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Having a learning disability is a condition for life
You are not alone
Support and information is available
Celebrate your uniqueness
Never give up

Reprinted with permission from Learning Disabilities Association of Quebec

(Written in collaboration with adults having learning disabilities)