On July 26, 1996, it was my pleasure to attend in the U.S. Senate the sixth anniversary celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). During this celebration the National Council on Disability (NCD) issued a new report, Achieving Independence: The Challenge for the 21st Century (A Decade of Progress in Disability Policy, Setting an Agenda for the Future). According to NCD chairperson Marca Bristo, “Achieving Independence is not government as usual; it calls for real change by and for real people.”
John Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) supports the idea that students can learn only if their mental capacity is not overloaded. In consideration of this theory, it is important to be aware of the amount of information a student is asked to learn.
Many of the adults in your child’s life are unfamiliar with learning disorders in general, or your child’s unique pattern of strengths and limitations. Help others understand by writing a short one- to three-page dossier that provides useful information about your child. This article describes key elements of such a document, and provides a sample.
