Learning disabilities can make kids feel like everything is so much harder than it needs to be. Basic lessons in math, writing and English may take them twice as long or leave them reading the same sentence over and over. Some common learning disabilities include dyslexia (affecting reading, spelling and comprehension), dysgraphia (affecting letter formation and writing), dyscalculia (affecting math comprehension), plus others that impair speech or processing.
While many schools have accommodations for children with learning disabilities, some specialize in education methods that better fit these different ways of learning.
Here are some schools that cater to learning differences in the Frederick area.
Glenwood Academy
This school in Eldersburg focuses on a customized approach to language-based learning for each student. Some approaches used include executive function support, multisensory math, social emotional learning, structured literacy through the Orton Gillingham cumulative approach, humanities subjects that support building knowledge that helps with reading comprehension and career exploration. The school serves first through 12th grades. Internet Special Education Resources (iser.com) lists Glenwood as ideal for dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD and other sensory, language and learning disabilities.
Sheppard Pratt School – Frederick
The Frederick location of the Sheppard Pratt school serves students with autism, emotional disabilities, specific learning disabilities and other health impairments, according to the Maryland Association of Special Education Facilities (MANSEF). This school aims to present a least-restrictive environment by offering specialized classes in partnership with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS), allowing students to join their peers in public school for specials, lunch and other courses when the student is ready. Speech and language therapy are among services students have access to through the school, which serves first through fifth grades.
mansef.org/school/sheppard-pratt-school-frederick
Rock Creek School
An FCPS special education school, Rock Creek School, in Walkersville, has a broader focus, as well as serving students with learning disabilities. The school helps students aged 3 to 21 with all sorts of skills to better develop communication and acquire the ability to be more independent. Since the school is public, it’s a much more accessible option for many families who have a child with disabilities. Students are admitted through the county Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, and services include physical and occupational therapy, as well as speech and language therapy. The Rock Creek School works closely with organizations like the Arc of Frederick County, Frederick County Developmental Center, Division of Rehabilitative Services and the Developmental Disabilities Administration.
Need more resources? FCPS has tools to assess reading difficulties, as well as web resources and reading materials for parents to help them understand and navigate their child’s learning disability: fcps.ss5.sharpschool.com/academics/assessments_interventions
