Identifying learning disabilities early can lead to greater mental health in adulthood. A study conducted in 2009 by several Canadian universities found that people with learning disabilities were more likely to experience depression, stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. One in 10 Canadians has a learning disability yet there are no standardized tests in place to catch the early signs in students.
David Onley shares his thoughts on how schools can promote accessibility in an interview with Our Kids TV.
The Honourable David C. Onley has always been an advocate for accessibility, whether it’s invisible or not. He believes accessibility is that which enables people to achieve their full potential. ”Accessibility is much more than wheelchair parking spots, curb cuts, automatic doors, ramps and things like that,” Onley says. Some 900,000 people in Ontario have invisible disabilities, he points out, including significantly limiting conditions such as depression or diabetes.
(WATCH: The Honourable David C. Onley, lieutenant governor of Ontario, speaks about accessibility.)
Delving deeper into this issue, we need to look at the goal which is to help people realize the depth of their capabilities. “A student has some difficulty, to use an example, of note taking or exam writing,” Onley says. ”If that’s their disability, then they need special assistance to achieve their full potential.” If these hurdles are identified early on, the negative effect they can have on someone’s mental health may no longer be a barrier in later years.
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How can schools help students with disabilities reach their full potential? Do you think school boards need to create standardized testing for learning disabilities? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the Comments section below.
Related:
Dialogue Magazine Expert Q&A | David C. Onley
Dialogue Magazine: How Private Schools Are Addressing Diversity
8 Ways to Improve Kid’s Concentration
Five Tips to Help Children With Learning Disabilities
The Future of Learning Disabilities
About Wendi Percival
Hi Wendi:
Thank you for an excellent and timely post on supporting kids with disabilities. However, I would take issue with you on two points, as follows:
I believe you have misinterpreted what His Honour said in this interview. At the 00.50 mark on the video, he states "50% of people with disabilities in the province of Ontario right now, that's some 900,000 people, they have invisible disabilities." In the accompanying piece, you say Mr Onley believes that as many as 50% of Ontarians could suffer from invisible disabilities, which is quite different. (The most recent census indicates that 15.5% of Ontarians have a disability – some 1.8 million people, which is where Mr Onley gets his figure of 900,000.)
I would also suggest that neither Mr Onley nor any other person with a disability would describe themselves as "suffering" a disability. It has been my experience that people with disabilities say they live with or have disabilities, not suffer them.
Hi Tessa,
Thanks so much for your comment, I apologize for the misunderstanding on my part and I agree 'living with disabilities' is a more relevant way of phrasing that sentence.