Life Success
For Students With Learning Disabilities:
A Teacher Guide
Emphasize Strengths
Historically, the field of learning disabilities has focused on remediating academic deficits demonstrated by students with learning disabilities. Thus, both research and practice have been aimed at interventions to improve deficient skills in reading, writing, math, organization, memory, and social relations in educational settings.
Fortunately, many research-based interventions have been developed that improve skills in these areas. However, despite a growing research base of effective academic interventions, and application of this research in the classroom by dedicated, knowledgeable, and insightful teachers, learning disabilities do not go away but follow students into and throughout their adult life.
In another line of investigation, recent research has shed light on factors that lead individuals to successful life outcomes, despite their deficits. For successful individuals, a more productive strategy appears to be accentuating and developing strengths and abilities, rather than concentrating exclusively on improving areas of deficiency.
In our own research on success and learning disabilities, as well as research by others, we have shown that those individuals who found and pursued their strengths, abilities, and special talents were more likely to be successful than those who did not. These individuals often found jobs or chose careers that provided them with the opportunity to showcase their abilities rather than expose their deficits. Persons with learning disabilities who found employment that best matched their abilities had a greater chance of being successful. This match between abilities and setting has been called “goodness-of-fit.”
Research also indicates that the chances for achieving a satisfying, rewarding, and productive life are enhanced by pursing activities and goals in which one is driven by interest, passion, and desire. Combining strengths and talents with such strong motivation can impart a powerful influence on life success.
Considering the above research findings, an intervention aimed at fostering life success should incorporate activities to help students explore strengths and talents while also recognizing and developing interests, motivation and passion. It is important for teachers to help their students understand not only their abilities and interests regarding academics within the school setting, but also areas beyond. This includes sports, dance, music, art, business, etc. Often students with learning disabilities know all too well what they cannot do, but have little opportunity to explore or pursue areas for which they may have talent or a high level of interest.
On the other hand, helping students to recognize a broad range of potential aptitudes can set the stage for a developing a satisfying, rewarding life, as opposed to one of repeated struggle and failure.
Next: Consider Multiple Settings
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