How Can You Get Disability Benefits For Children’s Learning Disabilities?
To qualify for social security disability benefits, you need to prove your disability limits your capability to work. For this, there are eligibility criteria listed in the blue book of the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you must meet.
Children who are suffering from learning disorders can also meet the criteria for disability but must also meet the requirements laid down by the SSA. In the year 2017, there was a new disability listing added in the blue book of the SSA. The listing specifies learning disability as a disabling medical illness. The listing falls under part 112.11 for neurodevelopmental disorders. This listing comprises most of the learning disorders including dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning problems.
According to the listing, a child must have problems in academics and memorizing things. A child must also have marked limitation in one or more of the following fields:
- Memorizing information or the capability to grasp concepts, solve problems, or follow instructions;
- Socializing with others, including making friends or handling conflicts;
- Lacking focus and the ability to cope with things on time;
- Managing life, including how to protect oneself, regulating different emotions, and maintaining personal hygiene.
Children whose IQ level is above 70 will not be considered as having limited functionality. It can be a challenging task to meet the listing, therefore taking advice from a disability lawyer could be a good idea if you have a child with special needs.
What Is A Learning Disability?
Learning disorders can have an adverse effect on the capability of an individual to understand, write or speak, coordinate movements, concentrate, or do mathematical calculations. However, the illness is not visible when the children have not reached school age.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS), the percentage of American children who suffer from learning disabilities is between 8% and 10%.
Learning disabilities are more of a neurological disorder and happen due to differences in the way an individual brain functions. Children having this disability are no less smart than their classmates. However, they may face some problems while reasoning, recalling, memorizing things, and organizing information.
Disability of this kind is not curable as it persists throughout life. Further, a child may even build a rewarding career.
Parents must help their children by motivating them and encouraging them to engage in many and varied activities. This will help them build confidence and fight their disability.
What Are Some Of The Common Learning Disabilities?
Some of the common learning illnesses are dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, auditory and visual processing disorders, and nonverbal learning disorders.
Dyslexia: This disorder is linked with problems in language. The understanding and clarity of words are lacking, causing reading disorders.
Dyscalculia: This disorder is linked with problems in mathematics. Children find it hard to solve arithmetic problems and understand different concepts related to mathematics.
Dysgraphia: This is a writing disorder making it hard for people to form letters and write within the space provided.
Auditory and Visual Processing disorders: These disorders are associated with sensory disabilities that cause problems in understanding language. However, people suffering from this disorder may have normal vision and hearing.
Non-verbal learning disorder: This type of disorder mainly originates in the right side of the brain. This can lead to visual problems, intervene in intuitive, evaluative, holistic, and organizational processing.
Individuals with a learning disorder may also suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, these two disorders are not similar.
What Documents Are Required To Prove Your Disability Claim?
To apply for social security disability, you need documents that will prove your disability claim. The information provided must show how the disorder limits a child’s functioning in the areas specified above.
You can provide school records that will have the history of your child’s disability. It will also specify whether the level of functioning of the child has improved or not. The records will also incorporate psychological testing, comments given by educators, and standardized testing. This will give a clear picture of how the child is functioning during the school years.
The records of the school will also state whether the child is taking any special classes or any extra education, and evaluate the child’s performance in school.
How Do I Know If Your Child Has A Learning Disability?
Parents or guardians can identify whether their children are suffering from learning disorders by identifying the symptoms.
Your child could suffer from learning problems if there is a problem in reading or writing, spelling, or solving mathematics problems. You must also analyze your child’s grade level according to their expected age.
If a child is unable to understand instructions clearly and faces problems in following them, then there may be a learning illness. If your child is unable to memorize or remember things, that is also a clear sign. a child is not doing homework or is showing a defiant attitude while reading or writing then there can be a learning ailment.
Therefore, parents must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of learning disorders. They can take note of whether their child faces any learning disorder.
You can seek advice from a Social Security Disability Lawyer if you want to obtain disability benefits for your child for a learning problem. This will help you and your child to deal with the disability with more ease.