Research Proposal

Taylor Novotny
Intern/Mentor
2016/2017
Research Title:
D is for Disability
Overview of Research
This research is directed towards educators and parents who are uninformed about
learning disabilities. Learning disabilities affect all aspects of life, going beyond grades in
school. They impact a person emotionally and socially as well as academically. There is little
help for children with moderate disabilities. It is often left to the teacher's discretion on how
much help the child would receive. It is a commonly held belief that schools do not adequately
test for disabilities. Schools need to be more supportive for children with LD to make sure all of
the students have an equitable chance to learn.
Background and History
The most dangerous type of learning disabilities are undiagnosed ones. While about 90%
of Americans know what dyslexia is, they are unable to identify any other types of learning
disabilities (Morin). Learning disabilities are defined as a neurologically-based processing
problems (Types of Learning Disabilities). They most obviously affect school work, but they
also have an impact on social relationships and emotional well-being. Social relationships and
emotional well-being are often overlooked when people think of LD. They are the hidden
impact. It may seem that they are unrelated from the LD because they would have to do with
personality. There are two hypotheses about where these problems stem from. The first being
that it stems from the same neurological disorder that the LD comes from. The second is the idea
that the failures in school cause the social and emotional anxiety (Lavoie). Anxiety and
depression are often seen among children with LD as well. These problems have all lead to many
problems. About 50% of students with a LD have been either suspended or expelled (Deshler,
2014).
Some ways learning disabilities are being addressed in the school system is with 504
plans and IEPs. An IEP would be if the person with an LD needs maximum assistance, to the
point where they cannot function themselves. A 504 plan is different because it allows the child
to stay in a general education class, but they have assistance to accommodate for their
shortcomings. Neither includes all of the specific learning disabilities, just dyslexia (HCPSS).
Children with other learning disabilities are left to accommodate for themselves, making it hard
to learn in any environment.

Problem Statement and Rationale

When searched in Google, dyslexia shows up with over 14 million search results, an
informational side bar with treatment options, as well as a definition of the words that shows up
at the top of the screen. When dysgraphia is searched, a few hundred thousand search results
show up, nothing more.
There is a gap in the education of learning disabilities. Too many people, educators and
parents, specifically, that are unaware. Educators are the first line of defense to helping a child
with a learning disability. They are the ones who are aware of the childs progress, and they are
in charge of the childs academic well-being. However, when a teacher is asked to name all the
types of learning disabilities, often times, they are unable to name more than dyslexia. If an
educator is unaware of the signs of a learning disability, how are they supposed to help and
support a child who could possibly have one?
Research Methodology
Research Question and Hypothesis
Why is there such little education on learning disabilities? What are the best ways
to identify and accommodate for them?
Learning disabilities are going unidentified because teachers and parents are
uninformed on the topic.
Basis of Hypothesis
The hypothesis focuses educating people about learning disabilities so they know
what to look for in a child. Many undiagnosed cases are because people do not have the
adequate information to help their child. For some children, the symptoms of a learning
disability may not appear until later in their education. As soon as there is a sign of
trouble, it is important that anyone helping the child is as informed as possible. As of
2006, reports of LD have gone down about 45% in America. This could be because of the
lack of knowledge on the subject. About 37% of parents believe that their schools are not
testing children adequately, and the parents are uninformed of what the LD is (NCLD).
Past dyslexia, most parents could not identify any other learning disorders. Test scores
show that children with LD perform lower than children without, however this does not
mean that children with LD perform lower in general. 12-26% of students with LD
perform higher than the national averages.
Research Design
Every school, at least in Howard County, has a school psychologist. An interview
at every level, elementary, middle, and high school, will be conducted with the
psychologist. There will be specified questions for every level. In elementary, questions

about early diagnosis will be asked. Middle school and high school will mostly be about
how the accommodations that are supposed to be provided are working, and if they are
being fulfilled. Questions about success rate in the students will also be asked. Then, I
will ask these in Baltimore County inner city schools. Howard County, compared to
Baltimore County, is a much more affluent county. The allocation of resources may be
different, so the comparison between how the counties are concerned with learning
disabilities will be different.
Operational Definitions
Intervention strategies: Anything implemented for the child that could give them
an equitable chance of succeeding in the classroom. This could be extended time
on a test, alternatives to multiple choice testing, allowing a child to write on a test,
or any sort of visual aid are some examples.
Learning disabilities: Learning disabilities include a variety of many disabilities
including dysgraphia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorders,
language processing disorders and more.

Product Overview
By the end of my research, I would like to create an informational website for parents and
educators. It will provide the most information for the largest audience. I can send the website to
different principals in Howard County or other counties to present the information. This research
would benefit educators who can better identify the issues for the children in the classroom. The
website would include warning signs to look for, the benefits of early identification, how to start
a conversation if you think your child may have a learning disability, and what you can do about
it.
Logistical Considerations
The website would be have to be very information dense and accurate. It would
have to be easy to read and simple, but give the most accurate and helpful information as
possible. In sharing my data, when I interview people, I will have to ask permission to
use their data on the website. In third quarter, a timeline will be added that outlines the
data collection, product development, and audience distribution.