Learning Disabilities and Life Stories

by Pano Rodis

This anthology is comprised of two major thirteen full-length, autobiographical essays written by persons with learning disabilities and five analytical chapters written by education and psychology scholars. KEY Speaking in terms alternately intimate and analytical, the autobiographical essays each tell of a sustained personal encounter with the challenges and mysteries of living with a learning disability. But these autobiographies are not merely personal, concerned solely with their writers' private lives. Rather, they are also in various ways consciously analytical, offering astute critical readings of culture and society. The scholarly essays are written by such noted educators and psychologists as Lisa Delpit, Robert Kegan, and Janet Lerner. For any educator or parent of students with learning disabilities.

Genres: Education, Professional Development

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2000

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been looking for a book like this for a while. It actually seems to be written to be used for a college course about learning disabilities (LD). I skipped the introduction parts because it was all information about LD which I already know. I went straight to the Life Stories. These were individual stories written by college students who were LD. The students ranged in age because not all of them had a traditional education experience (most didn't). Each person shared very personal stories about their experiences living with a learning disability. As a Special Education teacher without disabilities, I have longed to read about personal experiences and feelings that students go through having LD. My students are too young to be able to really verbalize their experiences the way these stories do. It was very heartbreaking to read these experiences. I wish all teachers - especially general education teachers, would read these stories.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the stories included here are insightful and help me better understand students with mild learning disabilities and how they see the world.

Otoh, like many things in this field it's just SO WHITE and told from WHITE children's perspectives which is always annoying. I always get the feeling that only minority teachers notice this in a lot of the material we read. But I guess that's to be expected when 90% of teachers are white women.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

As assigned reading I see the value of this text, however it is nearly 17 years old and only features outdated essays. The experiences of those students is still relevant but it makes me wonder how the approaches have changed. Without that knowledge I feel it is slightly lacking.

In addition it needed more concrete ideas on how to help. Things were introduced in broad strokes: adjust teaching to suit all learning styles. Okay, so what learning style does these child need?

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book (despite the odd cover art) that offers an insightful glimpse into the lives of people who have learning "disabilities." I write "disabilities" in quotation marks because I personally don't believe that LD is really a disability, but rather a difference in learning style. We each have a unique learning style and just because a person doesn't fit into the mold that the current education system has set as the norm, doesn't mean that they are disabled. In fact, each of the individuals in this book who shares their story is gifted in amazing way. As a special educator, I found this book to be an invaluable read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with children who have learning differences, and to anyone who wishes to broaden the horizons of their own understanding of the human race.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of this book for a class on special education, and it really helped me understand the experiences of students with learning differences in a new way. Each of these autobiographies from students themselves was compelling and provided insight into the experiences of these students. By providing the perspectives of many different students with a variety of experiences, the book helps to show what many students with learning differences share in common as well as how widely varied their experiences can be.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal essays by students who were labeled "Learning Disabled" or suffered through some sort of comprehension setback during their education. The book was helpful due to the essays serving as proof of how far the writer(s) has come in their struggle to communicate, learn, and finally feel normal or part of a community. Learning about LD from first-hand accounts, very revealing, with some essays being somewhat more enlightening than others.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw myself in so many of these stories. Really clear on how LD pervades all aspects of life, not just academics, and how it can mean strengths as well as pain.