People with learning disabilities have difficulty with reading, writing, arithmetic, memory or other ability areas related to learning. Learning disability does not mean, however, that a person is not smart. Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison, a great inventor, and Walt Disney all had problems reading.

Most with learning disabilities have average to above average intelligence. They are very good (even exceptional) at doing some types of learning but have very difficult time in specific areas. What is happening? Why can't they read, or write, or do math if they are so intelligent? For those with learning disabilities the brain seems to be organized in a less efficient manner for certain types of processing. For those who have difficulty reading it could mean that the information when it comes into the brain is not seen as most of us would see it.

What does this mean?

Sometimes when you are watching television or a movie the movement of the lips does not match the timing of the words as they are heard. This can be very frustrating to watch. A learning disability could be though of as something like that.

For example, read the sentences below:

These sentences are hard to read because your brain is used to seeing them in a more organized manner. If you had a computer that could correctly space the words for you quickly you could easily read what has been written. In other words, if you had received an accommodation you would have been successful at reading the content.