Students with learning disabilities (LD) continue to experience one of the highest drop-out rates. The dropout rate for students with LDs is approximately twice that of general education students. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) reported that 19% of students with learning disabilities dropped out of school in 2011 versus 35 percent in 2002 [1].

The findings from a very recent report by the Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, mention that dropouts of students with LDs are much higher than other students in general education. Also, the academic achievement of students with LDs continues to lag far behind the general student population. According to this study, approximately 36% of young adults on the autism spectrum ever attended postsecondary education of any kind – including 2-year or 4-year colleges or vocational education.

Thus, despite that fact that the drop-out rates from high school of students with LDs are decreasing over time, still teaching and learning processes need to become more engaging, stimulating and effective.

The recent trend is to use assistive technologies and games. Why not use the more advanced type of assistive technologies, i.e. the Kinect device? Check Kinems solution.

References

[1] Cortiella, Candace and Horowitz, Sheldon H. The State of Learning Disabilities: Facts, Trends and Emerging Issues. New York: National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2014.

[2] Roux, Anne M., Shattuck, Paul T., Rast, Jessica E., Rava, Julianna A., and Anderson, Kristy, A. National Autism Indicators Report: Transition into Young Adulthood. Philadelphia, PA: Life Course Outcomes Research Program, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 2015. - See more at: http://tinyurl.com/q2tua3a