San Diego City College (619) 388-3400   1313 Park Blvd  San Diego, California 92101 

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LEARNING DISABILITIES
The student with learning disabilities is a person with average to above-average intelligence who has difficulty learning in the regular classroom setting. Though usually not visually or hearing impaired, these students do not learn as others do. Due to their “hidden disabilities”, they may perform well in some areas, but lag far behind in others, making them uneven, inconsistent and unpredictable learners. Often the disabilities make them appear stupid, lazy, unmotivated and uncaring, when in actuality, the students are striving desperately to succeed.

Definition:

According to the Title V regulations that govern the California Community Colleges, and in accordance with the State Education Code and State and Federal legislative guidelines:

Learning disability in California Community College adults is a persistent condition of presumed neurological dysfunction, which may also exist, with other disabling conditions. This dysfunction continues despite instruction in standard classroom situations. Learning-disabled adults, a heterogeneous group, have these common attributes:

• average to above intellectual ability;
• severe processing deficits;
• severe aptitude-achievement discrepancy (ies); and
• measured achievement in an instructional or employment setting.

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No typical LD Student:

Manifestations of learning disabilities vary from person to person, so that it is impossible to describe a typical learning-disabled student. However, all have difficulty with some aspect of taking, in, retaining and expressing information. They will usually display a cluster of some of the behaviors described in the chart below.

Not surprisingly, students with learning disabilities often have low self-esteem due to a history of failure and school problems. Some have very poor social relationships, being overly aggressive, or shy and withdrawn, or generally awkward and inept in social situations. People do not usually “outgrow” or completely overcome learning disabilities. However, students may be taught to by-pass or compensate for them and so improve their basic academic skills. Services may include small group instruction to remediate skill deficits and tutoring in regular college classes. For some Learning Disabled students who still have severe deficiencies in reading and writing skills, additional accommodations can be provided.

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Assessment For Learning Disabilities:

City College students who have difficulty learning in the regular classroom setting may take a series of tests designed to determine their eligibility for special services. These tests assess their basic strengths and weaknesses and provide the basis for planning an individual program with services/accommodations based on limitations.

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Learning Disabilities and Typical Behaviors

Program Coordinator, Barbara Mason, bmason@sdccd.edu | Phone: (619) 388-3513 | (619) 388-3313 (TTY)
Office: # A115 | Office Hours: M,T,W, 7:30-6:00 pm, Th, 7:30-4:00, Fri, 7:30-3:30

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