October is Learning Disability Awareness Month

October is LD Awareness Month, a time to highlight and celebrate the 1 in 5 people who think and learn differently. In recognition of this month, the Learning Specialists at Bush would like to offer resources to our community.

Learning Disability (LD) is a general term that describes conditions in which a student with average or above average intelligence experiences significant difficulty with academic skills such as reading, writing, math, communication, or attention. 

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and ADHD are types of learning disabilities. Each of these different ways of thinking are natural variations of the human brain and fall under the umbrella term of neurodiversity. Neurodivergent thinkers have amazing strengths and talents that enhance the diversity of our community and we are excited to celebrate them this month!

It is important to note that although the fields of medicine and education currently require the word “disability” to access related support services, people in this community may prefer words like “learning difference” or “neurodivergent” to more accurately represent the strengths and advantages associated with learning and thinking differently.

If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” - Maya Angelou 

“If we can see our differences or unique qualities as gifts, we can bypass the stigmas that come with them and impress upon ourselves and society we can do anything any other person can do, just differently, and sometimes better.”

― Lorin Morgan-Richards