School Year Tips for Students with Learning Disabilities

Guest post by: Jenna Sherman | Parent-leaders.com | jennasherman@parent-leaders.com

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ENABLE Special Needs Planning.

The upcoming school year is certain to be tough for many students. However, students with learning disabilities are likely to be hit hardest. The extra attention and one-on-one instruction that these kids need to thrive might be simply impossible when paired with online instruction or socially distant classrooms. Fortunately, parents, students, and teachers can take steps to make the upcoming year a little easier on this population. Here’s a list of resources you can use to make sure your child can succeed.

Seek Help

Your child’s school and medical team can be a great resource.

• Ask what kind of assistance the school will provide for students with disabilities.
• Ask your child’s doctor or therapist for tools you can use to help your child thrive.
• Remember that your well-being matters; talk to a friend, family member, or professional if you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything.

Provide Support

Make sure your child knows they can turn to you when they’re struggling.

• Encourage them to come to you if they’re struggling to understand assignments.
• Use digital security tools to keep them safe online.
• Help them come up with strategies that make online or combination schooling easier.
• Remind them that they are more than their grades.
• Help them find alternative ways to define their own success.

Keep an Open Mind

Unusual approaches might be a surprisingly good fit for your child.

• Setting their own schedule could be beneficial for students with learning disabilities.
• Encourage your child to try breaking up their day with fun activities.
• If your child has a passion such as art or music, try to find ways for them to learn core concepts through those avenues.

It might take some trial and error to find the best game plan for your child, but it will be worth the effort. However, keep your expectations reasonable, and take the time to recognize when your child’s best simply isn’t working. Be gentle and compassionate: This may be a difficult year, but the work you put in for your little one will mean more to them than any test score could.