A Parent Education Group in Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Parent counseling and parent education procedures are increasingly recognized as important interventive mental health strategies. This article describes a parent education group which focuses on the learning disabled child and provides parents with a survey of specific learning disabilities. Factual information and emotional support are provided in a series of 6 to 8 group sessions. The content areas include LD definitions, laterality and directionality, visual perceptual difficulties, auditory perception problems, and perceptual-motor issues. In addition to the cognitive input, parents are involved in experiential activities designed to help them experience the world of the learning disabled. Time is provided for open-ended discussion, of specific problems. Feedback from parents indicated a very positive response.