What is considered a learning disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

A learning disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifically refers to conditions that affect an individual's ability to acquire and use academic skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics. These disabilities can hinder a person's ability to process information and can significantly impact their academic performance. Academic skill disorders encompass a range of specific learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dyscalculia, which directly relate to difficulties in learning and using academic skills.

The other options, while they do pertain to various conditions, do not fit the definition of learning disabilities as outlined by the ADA. Social anxiety disorders, for example, relate more to emotional and psychological functioning, while Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is often classified separately under attention-related disorders. Physical disabilities involve bodily impairments and are not classified under learning disabilities as they do not directly affect cognitive processing of academic material. Therefore, the designation of academic skill disorders captures the essence of what constitutes a learning disability in this legal context.