Introduction

Public awareness of the special needs of individuals with disabilities has increased in recent years. Changes such as ramps and special toilet facilities have been made to accommodate the more obvious needs. However, there are difficulties in daily living tasks and at the work place which are not so widely recognized. The needs of individuals with learning disabilities fall into this category.

People with learning disabilities may have one or more of the following characteristics: poor reading and/or math skills, difficulty with written and/or verbal communication, inability to abstract and generalize, and social immaturity. Because people with learning disabilities do not look different from the general population and their disabilities are not readily visible, they are often expected to function at a level higher than their skills would warrant. This sometimes leads to misinterpretation of problem behaviors. What makes identification complex is the fact that many have chosen not to disclose their limitations because they are ashamed or fear that they would not be hired.

• It is estimated that 10-15% of employees in any large organization have some characteristics of learning disabilities. With the implementation of the American with Disabilities Act 1990 more of this population will enter the workplace. It is hoped that this manual will help employers and supervisors to identify workers with learning disabilities so that a better understanding of their needs may lead to more successful employment for all concerned.

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revised 4.21.02