National Learning Network provides training and specialist support to people who, for a variety of reasons, may find it difficult to gain employment. National Learning Network helps people with a range of Behavioural & Cognitive Disorders.
What are Behavioural & Cognitive Disorders?
Behavioural & Cognitive Disorders are conditions that can make learning, thinking, and interacting with others more challenging. These conditions can affect areas like coordination, reading, maths, regulating emotions or communication. Some common examples include:
- Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): This affects how a person moves and controls their body. It can make things like balancing, writing, or organising daily tasks harder. It can also affect speech, memory and social or emotional skills.
- Dyslexia: Dyslexia makes it difficult to read and spell. For example, someone might mix up letters, find reading difficult or have trouble spelling words. They may experience stress, frustration or anxiety in response to traditional methods of learning how to read or spell.
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Emotional Disorders Onset in Childhood: ADHD can makeit hard to stay focused, control impulses or stay organised. People with ADHD might also find it difficult to keep track of things or feel the need to move around frequently.
Other emotional and behavioral conditions include difficulties regulating emotions leading to tantrums, oppositional behaviour, conduct disorders, depression, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental differences such as Autism. Understanding and supporting these unique needs helps individuals thrive and embrace their strengths.
- Dyscalculia: Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that affects a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers. For someone with dyscalculia, tasks involving maths can be challenging. They might struggle with adding/subtracting, telling the time, understanding quantities or handling money.
Receptive or Expressive Language Disorders: These conditions affect how a person understands or uses spoken language. A person might have trouble understanding what others are saying (receptive) or struggle to express their thoughts in words (expressive).
How NLN Helps People with Behavioural & Cognitive Disorders
People with behavioural and cognitive disorders have many strengths such as creativity, problem-solving, determination, empathy, strategic thinking and the ability to think outside the box. NLN offers a range of services to help individuals with these disorders thrive in educational settings and beyond:
- Personalised Needs Assessments: When you join NLN, we conduct a thorough assessment to identify the supports you need. These supports may include accommodations like extra time for exams or specialised exam settings.
- Strategy Development: We work with you to create strategies for improving time management, organization, and study skills, tailored to your unique needs.
- Assistive Technology: For those with conditions like dyslexia, we provide access to technology that can make tasks like notetaking, proofreading, and exam preparation easier.
- Screening and Assessment: In some cases, we offer screenings for conditions like dyspraxia and ADHD as well as consultations and psychological assessments for dyslexia.
- Strengths-Based Support: Our approach focuses on your strengths, helping you develop key skills for studying, organising, socialising, and self-care.
At NLN, we’re dedicated to helping individuals with Behavioural & Cognitive Disorders build the skills and confidence they need to succeed in their educational journey and beyond.
- During their time with National Learning Network all students have access to the support of a multidisciplinary team comprising of a rehabilitation officer, psychologist, resource teacher and advocacy officer.
Get In Touch
We would be delighted to hear from you to discuss your individual needs and which course would best suit you.
- Find your local NLN centre here
- For general enquiries about NLN, please email info@nln.ie
- For all other queries call 01 205 7200.
