An assistance programme for the learning disabled child in the secondary school

Abstract

Learning disabled (hereafter abbreviated as LD) adolescents have a hard time coping with the demands of secondary school and often experience frustration and failure. Educators have received little or no training to provide meaningful support for these learners. Despite sweeping policy changes LD learners' diverse needs are not being met in the classroom. Research indicates that LD learners are best served within the mainstream classroom. In-service training is necessary to help educators equip themselves with skills to cope with this new role. An assistance programme has been developed in this study to provide practical teaching and learning interventions, to help educators support the LD secondary school learner in regular mainstream classrooms. If LD learners are supported in the classroom they will acquire skills to become independent learners.