Teaching and helping Adults with Learning Disabilities (PART 3)

Author: Odhinn Kohout

Excerpt from:

Curtis Rush (Police Reporter) Toronto Star Wed Oct 24/2012

“Ontario Ombudsman André Marin has slammed the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for being “reluctant” to acknowledge and take action to support police officers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, likening the response to a “bureaucratic brush-off.”

Severe Organizational problems that appear with your students can literally hold back their advancement or result in constant disciplinary actions. I take this very seriously at the cadet/recruit level as it shows a lack of respect for the organization they have been hired by and the course Instructor.

In the event that regardless of how many pushups the student performs or warnings about impending suspensions and this behavior continues, there is evidence to support a probable organizational LD. Punitive measures must not be instituted and the student will require not only your understanding but also your help.

In a very well documented and supported study from “The Royal College of Psychiatrists” (Anxiety disorders in people with learning disabilities) provides clinical documentation of varying levels of anxiety that often accompanies learning disabilities.

I have added an excerpt from this article;

“Physiological manifestations Include: dry mouth, difficulty in swallowing, flushing, sweating, pallor, palpitations, tremor, hyperventilation, chest pain/tightness, headache, backache, fatigue, muscle tension, diarrhea, increased urinary frequency, paraesthesia, heightened startled response and insomnia. Avoidance is a common behavioral manifestation of anxiety.”

There is enough pressure on our Military/Police personnel without adding chronic anxiety to the mix. This should be apparent that assistance given to the student with an LD early on with pay dividends at a later date.

Reinforcement Strategies:

·         Poor sense of direction /easily lost or confused -this is no joking matter in the Military/Police world and could have tragic consequences regarding health and safety both to the general public, and fellow Officers

(GPS is now a standard feature in most Police Dept’s patrol vehicles. Training that is provided is extensive and this use of assistive technology would be a great asset to the person with an LD.

·         Performs poorly comparative to overall class results on timed tests

(Offer alternative types of testing I.E. oral, supplement your courses with pre-test class exercises both written and discussion based to help prepare the student and lower anxiety.

·         Cannot organize an itinerary for class scheduling

(Assist by providing handout with a full course outline including due dates for each assignment and other testing)

Anxiety and Stress Ramifications:

Leaving anxiety unchecked and allowing dangerous levels of stress to continually build is something that has only recently come to light in recent years. ABC News reporter “Kristina Wong” in her article “Military Losing the Battle Against Suicide” posted some frightening data.

“Between 2005 to 2010, a U.S. service member took his or her own life every 36 hours…”

I could not find any published statistical suicide data studies for persons with an LD directly but…

 In a study entitled “Patterns of Change and Predictors of Success in Individuals with Learning Disabilities: Results from a Twenty-Year Longitudinal Study” by authors Marshall H. Raskind, Roberta J. Goldberg, Eleanor L. Higgins, and Kenneth L. Herman” points to a very high percentage of persons who are incarcerated HAVE some sort of LD.

I hope that you are of the realization that this is only scratching the surface of the problems these persons face, and that they may be in your next class.