Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Specific Learning Disabilities

Estephania Cortez #5
Disability-Specific Characteristic Matrix
Directions: Use a variety of resources to find and create lists of the common characteristics of students with each of these six disabilities.
Academic
Social and/or Behavioral
Physical
Possible Strengths
Characteristics
Characteristics
Characteristics
Differs from person to
May not follow the social
Can have difficulty with
Average or above
person; Includes
rules of conversation, such
vision, although vision
average intelligence
High achievers
difficulties with
as taking turns.
tests may not reveal a
Excellent long-term
May stand too close to the
reading, writing and
problem.
Can be ambidextrous.
memory.
listener.
or math.
Learns best through
May have trouble
Can be clumsy or
May not understand
hands-on experience.
understanding jokes/
uncoordinated.
what he/she reads
Talented in art, sports
Messy handwriting/
sarcasm.
May have trouble following
and other recreational
holds pencil
activities.
directions.
awkwardly.
Can be emotionally
May struggle to
sensible.
express ideas/ limited
vocabulary/
Mispronunciation of
Some can perform one
May have poor self-esteem
Brain Injuries
Athletic competence
Differs from person to
Positive peer relations
or two years below
or depression
Sufficient resources
Loss of interest in social
person.
grade level.
Can also have learning
and other life activities.

May exhibit substance

disabilities and
abuse.
language delays.
Anxiety or PTSD.
Lowest GPA and
Phobias, eating disorders.
highest dropout rate
Can be under diagnosed.
(More common in females)
Aggressive, non-compliant,
extroverted and disruptive
(more common in males).

Communication Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

Speech / Language

Academic
Characteristics
Trouble getting
organized.
Procrastination
Children with ADHD
score significantly
lower on reading and
arithmetic
achievement tests
More likely to get
suspended, expelled or
repeat a grade.

Noticeably behind
other students in
speech and/or
language skills
development.
May have a learning
disability with average
intelligence.
Difficulty with
figurative language.
Difficulty solving
math problems.
Overall lower
academic

Behavioral/social
Characteristics
Inattention, hyperactivity,
and impulsivity.
Easily bored and easily
distracted.
Tendency to blurt out
answers.
Impatient, low tolerance for
frustration.
Tendency to worry
needlessly.

Inability to follow
directions or express ideas.
Ask inappropriate
questions or answer them
inappropriately.
Will not initiate
conversations.
Easily frustrated.
No eye contact.
May isolate from social
situations

Physical
Characteristics
Non pertaining to ADHD

Strengths

Uses gestures when talking

instead of talking.
Can have cleft lip and/or
palate.

Cerebral palsy, muscular

dystrophy, brain injury,
hearing loss, ear surgery,
facial abnormalities, or
congenital (present at
birth) disorders

Has frequent allergy

problems or colds

Creative, intuitive,
highly intelligent.
Ongoing search for
high stimulation.

Average or above
average intelligence in
other life skills.

High-functioning Autism

Impairments (skeletal &

muscular)

Other Health Impairments &

Blind / Visually Impaired Visual Impairment

Academic
Characteristics
Below average nonverbal communication
skills.
Peculiarities in speech
and language
Can be average or
above average
intelligence.
Difficulty transferring
from one activity to the
next.
Inability to follow
directions and
inattention.
Many students with
orthopedic impairments
have no cognitive,
learning, perceptual,
language, or sensory
issues.
Depends upon
disease/factors and
severity.

Behavioral/social
Characteristics
Tendency to discuss self
rather than others.
Inabilities to understand
issues or phrases that are
common sense.
Lack of eye contact or
reciprocal conversation.
One-sided
conversations.

Due to restrained
mobility some may lack
the experiences of
common places, items
and activities compared
to others.
These students' social
interactions often are
limited because of
limited motor, self-help,
and self-care skills.

Physical
Characteristics
Awkward movements
and/or mannerisms.
Clumsiness and
uncoordinated
movements.
Odd or unnatural
posture.
Walks on toes or
without swinging arms
freely.

Many have problems

with motor skills.
May have pain or
discomfort, sleep poorly
and be fatigued.

Strengths

Above average verbal

communication skills.
Excellent memory in
some areas.
Exceptionally high skills
in some areas.

Can have average to

higher than average
intelligence
Can study in inclusions
classes with specific
accommodations.