Specified Learning Disabilities and Music Education

Specified learning disabilities are the most common disability. Currently, the National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that 41% of children in the United States receiving special education services are diagnosed with one or more specific learning disabilities. Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, but others include dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia. Children with learning disabilities frequently struggle with organizational skills, fine or gross motor control, and short- or long-term memory difficulties. This chapter provides information about each of these disabilities and includes strategies for music educators to provide appropriate accommodations and modification couched in a universal design for learning approach to music education.