Language difference or disability?
- It is important for educators to figure out whether a student in their class is struggling due to a language difference or if it is due to the student having a disability.
- Generally, the student will probably not have special education needs if they are making similar academic progress at the same rate as other English Learners (ELs) from similar backgrounds (those students who share similar linguistic, cultural, educational or refugee experiences). On the contrary, educators should take some of the initial steps to see if the student has special education needs when they are progressing at a slower rate or they need more repetitive instruction compared to other ELs with a similar educational experiences and backgrounds.
- The following charts display common indicators of whether there is a potential language difference or whether there is a possible disability that is causing the student to struggle.
- Refer to the following link for additional tools and resources for addressing english learners with disabilities, including tables that identify the differences between a learning disability and a language difference in a variety of areas. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/english-learner-toolkit/chap6.pdf