Why Does LD Matter?

Buried inside the definition of LD is the idea that people with brains that function differently perceive the world differently. This complicates life for people with LD considerably; not only do they learn differently but they see things differently. So, the learning side needs to deal, not only with technical things like reading, writing and math, it must also deal with the soft skills of best to relate to demands of the environment around them. It is this “disconnect” between how things are perceived and how they are, that contributes to the disability side of LD.

There are three main reasons why LD matters: its incidence, its human cost, and its financial cost.

The Incidence of LD

The research is in and has concluded that between 10 -20% of the total population has a LD. This range cuts across all socio-economic, age and ethnic groups, and both genders. This is an enormous number of people. In Alberta alone this means there are between 330,000 and 660,000 people with some form of LD.

The Human Cost

If ways are not found for people with average to above average, to learn effectively, the human costs are overwhelming. The simplest, and yet maybe most profound, way to describe the human cost of LD is the loss of human potential. We must all keep in mind that any loss of human potential is just like throwing a pebble in a lake – it has a ripple effect to the family and to the community.

One way to think about this is that LD locks in human potential. It cannot be unlocked until ways are found for people to learn effectively. In the absence of finding these ways, the human potential stays lock in. The person becomes disabled. There are many variables, specific to the person and their unique situation that affect how well a person with a LD navigates the river of life. It is safe to say, however, that a good name for the river is “Stress River”. A LD that has not been identified and supported, generates an increased level of situational stress in people’s lives which can become unmanageable. Without the right tools to navigate the river of life many negative things can happen: increased probability of mental illness, doing crime and going to jail, becoming pregnant and becoming a single parent, under employment, dependence on the social welfare system, drug abuse and so. The cost to people, families and communities is enormous.

This is real human tragedy. What makes it even more so is that one of the best solution lies within the learning system over which we have some control. If the system were to be designed to identify the condition early and to provide appropriate learning supports, the scale of the tragedy would be much smaller and eventually be non-existent.

The Financial Cost

As one would expect the financial cost to everyone is enormous. In 2001 The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada commissioned a study by the Roeher Institute to research the economic costs of LD to individuals, families and society.

The research examined the following direct and indirect costs to individuals with LD (and their families) and costs to public (and private) programs:

• Hospital services
• Services of medical doctors
• Miscellaneous health-related and social services
• Medications
• Education services
• Criminal justice services
• Income transfers through the Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, Workers Compensation and provincial Welfare programs
• Services provided by community agencies to assist with everyday activities because of disability
• Reduced of earnings of people with LD, and
• Reduced household incomes

The research concluded that:

• the cost of LD per person, from birth to retirement, is approximately $444,274 in 2001 dollars;
• people with LD and their families shoulder 55.2% per cent of the costs and public programs fund the remaining 44.8%;
• Assuming an LD incidence rate of 10% per cent, cost of LD to all individuals with LD, their families and to public and private programs in Canada is estimated to be approximately $1,400 billion in 2001 dollars.

Even though the financial cost is staggering and almost too large to imagine, it is not the most important reason that LD matters. The most important reason is that dealing with LD is a matter of social justice. How can we stand by, when we have the power to change things, and allow so much human potential go to waste? Supporting people with LD is a matter of values; of who we are individually and collectively. This is why LD matters.