Disability Comparison Template

Part 1:

For this section of the template, focus on gathering details about the IDEA disability categories. Review the textbook and the topic study materials and use them to complete the chart. Note that “Autism” has been completed for you as an example.

Disability Category

Definition

Characteristics

Causes

Prevalence

Potential Effect on Learning

Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects communication (verbal and nonverbal) and social skills.

-Difficulty communicating and interpreting motives and cues of others

-Not comfortable with change

-Poor social skills

-May engage in the same activity over and over (SARRC, n.d.)

The causes of Autism are not clear, but has something to do with brain development before birth

Autism is one of the fastest growing disabilities. Prevalence has changed to 1 in 68 children in U.S. (Autism Society, 2016, para. 2)

Difficulty with written expression. Reading comprehension, math problem solving, fine and gross motor skills may also be affected, over and under selective attention

Deaf-Blind

Deafness

Developmental Delay

Emotional Disturbance

Hearing Impairment

Intellectual Disability

Multiple Disabilities

Orthopedic Impairment

Other Health Impairment

Specific Learning Disability

Speech or Language Impairment

Traumatic Brain Injury

Visual Impairment Including Blindness

Part 2:

For this section of the template, focus on gathering details about common, specific learning disabilities. These disabilities fall under the IDEA disability categories you researched for the chart above. Review the textbook and the topic study materials and use them to complete the chart.

Learning Disability

Definition

Characteristics

Common Assessments for Diagnosis

Potential Effect on Learning and Other Areas of Life

Basic Strategies for Addressing the Disability

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Dyscalculia

Dysgraphia

Dyslexia

Dysphasia/Aphasia

Dyspraxia

Language Processing Disorder (LPD)

Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities

Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

References