PACFOLD Findings
- Findings from PACFOLD shows us the highest rate of children diagnosed with specific learning disabilities was found among for 10-year-olds at 7.2%.
- A significant number of youth and adults with learning disabilities drop out of the education system altogether, with over one-quarter of Canadians with LD aged 22 to 29 (28.3%) reporting less than a high school certificate as their highest academic achievement, compared to 14.9% with the general population.
- Parents and guardians of children aged 6 to 14 with learning disabilities were asked about their child's use of aids, specialized equipment or services to help with their learning disability. Just over half (50.3%) of these children used these types of aids, equipment or services. However, almost 3 out of 10 (29.3%) parents said that their children needed these types of aids, equipment or services, but did not have them.
- Persons with learning disabilities overwhelmingly achieve lower levels (Level 1 to 2) of prose, document and quantitative literacy, and are far less likely to test at higher levels. 71.6% of young adults with LD aged 16 to 21 tested at Level 1 to 2 for prose literacy compared to 36.9% of the general population.
- Learning disabilities also have an impact on employment opportunities. In a pattern that remains constant throughout their lifetimes, just over half of adults with LD aged 30 to 44 (51%) reported being employed compared to 89.1% of the total population in the same age group during the same period.
- Persons with learning disabilities were found to be 2 to 3 times more likely to report fair to poor physical, general, and mental health than the total population. In mental health alone, more than 3 times the number (27.8%) of adults with learning disabilities aged 22 to 29 years, said their mental health was fair to poor compared to only 8% of the total population. Persons with Learning Disabilities were more than twice as likely to report high levels of distress, depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, and visits to a mental health professional and poorer overall mental health compared to persons without disabilities.
For more information check out LDANB's website at www.nald.ca/ldanb and click on PACFOLD banner.
