Recognising and Supporting Learning Differences in a Competitive World

Geeta advocates for a more sensitive and inclusive approach to helping children with learning differences, addressing societal pressures and societal expectations to promote true learning, exclusively for Different Truths.

Two or three generations ago, we rarely thought about learning disabilities. Failing in a class was not something unusual. Students did not have to compete so much for marks. Now everything is different.

A student can easily be dyslexic or may have reading or math disability, attention deficit syndrome and so on. A child is expected to be perfect. Very little space is given to natural growth or learning. Isn’t there a pace of learning that can be different and yet not a kind of disability?!

We expect everyone to be the same, little realising that a child needs time to adjust to all the demands of society. In other words, everything must be standardised. In Singapore, I hear that even trees are trimmed so that they look alike. Imagine what would happen if a tall person and a short person had to be equal in height!  How can it be done? Follow the Singapore way? Isn’t being different beautiful and natural?

Indeed, certain learning disabilities cannot be ignored. But what happens when something to help a learner becomes commercial? There will be exclusive schools for those with learning disability specific to the kind of disability or problems. As a result, children get segregated, labelled, and the institutions make money and flourish. Instead, can’t we bring all kinds of children under one umbrella to an institution, and at the same time, help them with all kinds of learning problems without making them conscious of it? All in all, learning is not and should not be restricted to academics alone. Do we understand the feelings of our children?

We should understand what a learning disability is from the right perspective if we want to help children with learning. There should be a team of experts or professionals to deal with it sensitively. It shouldn’t be based on a few random tests conducted to find the disabled in learning.

“Learning disability is a term used to describe a range of learning and thinking differences that can affect the way the brain takes in, uses, stores, and sends out information. Some children have specific learning disabilities (also known as LDs), such as reading or math disabilities. Others may have conditions that affect learning like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or hearing loss. Many children with learning differences and difficulties can have more than one learning disability or condition that affects learning.”

Sensitivity and kindness are essential ingredients when dealing with children. After all, they are still little saplings who need to be nurtured with care.

Picture design by Anumita Roy