Half of parents who would choose to help a learning-disabled child privately think that learning disabilities are often caused by the home environment, compared to 38 percent of parents who would seek help publicly. Forty percent of parents have considered at one time or another that one of their children might have a serious problem with learning or schoolwork. This represents 27 percent of all parents. Forty-four percent of parents who noticed their child exhibiting signs of problems with learning waited a year or more before acknowledging their child might have a serious problem. Evidence shows that parental discomfort or shame often inhibits them from taking needed action.
Parents believe that learning disabled children struggle with self-esteem.
Nearly two-thirds of parents feel that children with learning disabilities view themselves as different and not as good as other children. Most parents recognize the need for extra resources for students with learning disabilities. Nine in ten parents feel that children with learning disabilities require special treatment in terms of individual attention they receive from teachers or counselors and the availability of specially trained teachers. CCLD is generously supported by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.