Validated Practices for Teaching Mathematics to Students With Learning Disabilities: A Review of Literature

Teaching mathematics to students with learning disabilities continues to be a challenge for teachers in today's schools. The prevalence of arithmetic disability is estimated to be at least 6% of the general population A significant number of students with learning disabilities exhibit specific difficulties with mathematics. At least one fourth of students with learning disabilities are identified for special education services due to significant discrepancies primarily between aptitude and mathematics performance In another study, teachers reported that 26% of their students with learning disabilities received special education services primarily for mathematical difficulties encountered in the general education curriculum The findings from this survey also revealed that, of students with learning disabilities in the sixth grade and higher, two of three received special instruction in math. Numerous researchers have reported that students with disabilities have extensive problems with mathematics computation and problem solving. Specifically, it has been noted that: