Review of Learning Disabilities by Etta K. Brown
A Comprehensive Guide to Learning Disability Problems and Solutions
Aug 2, 2009
Etta K. Brown has spent twenty years working as a special education teacher, school social worker, and a school psychologist. In her retirement, she uses all of this experience to share her expertise regarding learning disabilities with parents and educators alike.
Learning Disabilities: Understanding the Problem and Managing the Challenges [Langdon Street Press, 2008] is divided into three sections. The first part deals with a definition of and environmental factors contributing to learning disabilities. The second part explains the various laws involved in providing education to children with learning disabilities. The third part identifies signs and symptoms and provides general accommodations for home and school.
Definition of Learning Disabilities
A child with a learning disability is of average or above-average intelligence, yet is unable to function academically at that level. Standardized tests are given to gauge achievement and intellect in verbal and mathematical skills. The psychological processes of attention, visual and auditory processing, sensori-motor skills, and cognitive abilities are also evaluated.
Environmental Influences on Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities can be caused by delayed development or trauma to the central nervous system. They are also affected by the level and quality of nurturing by parents, emotional trauma, nutrition, allergies, hypoglycemia, and duration and quality of sleep. Brown devotes one detailed chapter to each of these environmental influences. Each chapter is as informative as a textbook, yet written in a clear fashion to be understood by all readers.
Public Education Laws
The four major public education laws that impact a child's rights are as follows: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (both known as IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Elementary and Secondary Education Act (a.k.a. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001).
Brown explains the provisions contained within each law and enumerates the subsequent parent rights in the special education process. She explains the process of obtaining and implementing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Understanding that parents may feel overwhelmed and confused with all of this information, she also invites them to contact her via her website, Understanding Learning Disabilities.
Types of Learning Disabilities
Brown dedicates one chapter to each of the following learning disabilities: visual processing, auditory processing, sensori-motor integration, and attention (which differs from Attention Deficit Disorder). Within each chapter are signs and symptoms of learning problems. She provides general strategies that can be employed both at home and at school. She emphasizes the importance of the two working together to develop the best plan for the child.
Each of these chapters is easy to read, as subsections are bold-faced and important points are bulleted in lists. All involved jargon is comprehensively defined for maximum understanding.
Understanding Learning Disabilities
Between the book and accompanying information on the website, parents can find a wealth of beneficial information to assist them on their quest for diagnosis and treatment for their child with learning disabilities. Explanation of laws will help them be the best advocate for their child. Teachers will benefit from the review of issues and laws, and from the suggestions for classroom accommodations.
Brown, Etta K. Learning Disabilities: Understanding the Problem and Managing the Challenges. Minneapolis: Langdon Street Press. 2008.
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