AEG Blog

What makes one student with learning differences go on to achieve a successful and satisfying life while another one struggles his entire life?  Are there key factors that make or break a student's chances of becoming everything he hopes to be?

LD Online offers an in-depth analysis of what determines success among those with learning differences.  Life Success for Students with Learning Disabilities: A Parent's Guide looks at the results of their long-term study and offers suggestions for parents who are attempting to guide their child to success in life.  From the article:

Our 20-year study, in particular, highlighted the importance of six success attributes for individuals with learning disabilities. These success attributes included: self-awareness, proactivity, perseverance, goal-setting, the presence and use of effective support systems, and emotional coping strategies. It is important to emphasize that not every successful individual possesses each of these attributes, and some attributes may be present to a greater or lesser degree. Similarly, persons who might be considered "unsuccessful" may nevertheless possess some of the success attributes, again, to a lesser or greater degree.

What it does mean is that successful persons with learning disabilities are much more likely to have these characteristics than unsuccessful individuals. It is our hope that, by helping parents understand these success attributes, they will be better prepared to work with and guide their children toward satisfying and rewarding lives. It is also important to keep in mind that having these attributes does not guarantee success. Rather, it increases the chances of achieving a fulfilling and successful life. It is interesting to note that our research indicates that these characteristics may have a greater influence on success than even such factors as academic achievement, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and even intelligence quotient (IQ).

The rest of the article goes on to explore each of the six success attributes including testimonials by different study participants.  It then provides parents with recommendations in each area to encourage an honest assessment of their child's current situation and to develop a plan for helping their child succeed.

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