The social construction of learning disabilities

Area of Science:

• Education
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Dominant theories view learning disabilities as individual pathologies.
• Remedial efforts often focus on internal student deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• Critique the ideology of individualism in learning disabilities.
• Introduce social constructivism as an alternative framework.
• Examine the performative aspects of learning disabilities in human relations.

Main Methods:

• Critique of individualism.
• Introduction of social constructivism.
• Illustrative examples of performativity in human relationships.

Main Results:

• Learning disabilities are not inherent individual traits but emerge from social interactions.
• The "stage" of schooling is crucial for the performance of learning disabilities.
• Individual success and failure are situated within human relations and activity.

Conclusions:

• A social constructivist stance reframes learning disabilities.
• Instructional strategies should consider relational and contextual factors.
• Learning disabilities are co-constructed within social systems.