Learning Disabilities Association of America
Learning Disabilities Association of America
With schools moving to online instruction or closing for an extended period of time, there is a concern for students with disabilities, including learning disabilities like dyslexia, who receive services through an IEP or Section 504 Plan.
The Learning Disabilities Association of America has made its experts available to answer questions that concerned parents and educators have about how remote learning will affect a student with a learning disability. Read More »
Thank you for signing up for our tutoring program! Please put the following dates in your calendar, so you don’t forget to join us: Session 1: Jun 18, 2020 07:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST Session 2: Jun 22, 2020 07:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST Session 3: Jun 25, 2020 07:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST Session 4: Jun 29, 2020 07:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST You will receive an email with details on how to join us for these sessions shortly (please make sure to check your email’s spam or junk folders if you don’t see this… Read More »
Our LDA affiliate in Pennsylvania, LDA of PA, is offering a great virtual learning series on tutoring with the Orton-Gillingham reading approach. This method is considered the gold standard for helping those with dyslexia, but is also helpful for all students learning to read. This introductory course is perfect for educators, parents of children with reading disabilities, those wishing to become reading tutors, and adults with learning disabilities. Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory approach, meaning that it includes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning strategies, which can increase the likelihood of understanding. One of the reasons it is so successful with dyslexic… Read More »
LDA visualizes a world in which learning disabilities are universally understood, so all individuals are accepted, supported, and empowered to live a self-determined life. As an organization, we acknowledge that our vision cannot be achieved as long as individual and systemic racism and structural inequality exist. The killing of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor are just the most recent examples of a society that systematically and historically fails to support and protect people of color and Black Americans in particular. As we work to achieve our vision, we recognize that we must speak out against actions… Read More »
With schools moving to online instruction or closing for an extended period of time, there is a concern for students with disabilities, including learning disabilities like dyslexia, who receive services through an IEP or Section 504 Plan.
The Learning Disabilities Association of America has made its experts available to answer questions that concerned parents and educators have about how remote learning will affect a student with a learning disability. Read More »
On June 2, 1920, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Smith-Fess Act, known as the National Civilian Rehabilitation Act. Two earlier congressional Acts had established vocational rehabilitation programs targeted to helping disabled World War I veterans transition to civilian life. The Civilian Rehabilitation Act of 1920 took those models and created a program for all Americans with disabilities, and this year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of that action. The Civilian Rehabilitation Act established the federal/state rehab program and gave funds to states, with a 50-50, match mainly for vocational services, guidance, training, occupational adjustment, and placement services. … Read More »
The U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services have joined together on a clearinghouse focused on school safety – www.SchoolSafety.gov. The new website provides resources for K-12 school administrators, educators, families, and the law enforcement community to prepare for and deal with school safety and security. There are a number of resources available at SchoolSafety.gov. These include an assessment tool to help schools evaluate their safety situation and an “action plan” template to help prioritize needed steps, as well as possible grant opportunities. The site also has a secure feature for school personnel to share… Read More »
With almost all schools in the country closed and many trying to provide virtual learning experiences, some questions have arisen about privacy of students and families. Student privacy is covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) at the U.S. Department of Education has developed a fact sheet with resources to assist educators and families in navigating how to ensure privacy while providing virtual education. SPPO has a number of resources on its website, including documents that address FERPA exceptions and a checklist to evaluate online educational apps. One question that… Read More »
In light of the current situation with COVID-19, Congress has been working overtime to address the needs of the country. The third stimulus package has been passed by both chambers of Congress and has been signed by the president. For LDA members, concerns have been raised about using this vehicle as a way to waive parts of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While waiver language remains, hopefully any use of this secretarial authority will be limited and carefully crafted by the U.S. Department of Education. The CARES Act contains an Education Stabilization Fund that will provide $30.75 billion… Read More »
Over the past several weeks, LDA has been closely monitoring developments related to Congress’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the leading voice for individuals with learning disabilities, LDA knows the value of ensuring that your voice is heard and represented in Washington D.C. Over the past week, LDA created a series of action alerts for members and LDA supporters to send to their U.S. Senators and Representatives. The first action alert was in opposition to a proposal that Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) offered giving the U.S. Secretary of Education authority to approve state waiver requests for any requirement of… Read More »
Military families with special needs children have unique challenges they face every day. This webinar presented by four military spouses will focus on the experience military families have with special needs education, the problems and difficulties facing families, and potential legislative solutions that Congress can provide to fixing those problems. A replay of the webinar will be provided for all registrants via email. About our Presenters: Michelle Norman, 2019 AFI Navy Spouse of the Year, is a Navy spouse of 25 years and mother of a 16-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and multiple other disabilities. After years of successfully advocating… Read More »
Thank you for making your voice heard last week! Over 230 of you reached out to your Senators/Representatives through our Action Alert! Thanks to your action, LDA has learned that the proposal to allow Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to have an absolute waiver authority over IDEA has been taken off the table! Despite this progress, the educational rights of our children are still in jeopardy. Last week, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate ‒ the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The Act includes a provision directing Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to report back to Congress within… Read More »
As the U.S. Congress deliberates on a stimulus package to address the COVID-19 epidemic, the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) has learned that Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has offered a proposal that would give the U.S. Secretary of Education authority to approve state waiver requests for any statutory or regulatory requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for one year, along with the permission of extensions. This provision harms the rights and protections of children with learning disabilities including Child Find, a free appropriate public education (FAPE), and Individualized Education Program (IEP, all procedural safeguards, re-evaluations, related… Read More »
Many times advocates and parents need to “go with their gut,” but what happens when instinct runs contrary to sound legal strategy? This session will cover common mistakes in advocating for services in schools, as well as common myths in special education advocacy. A replay of the webinar will be provided for all registrants via email. About our Presenter: Caitlin McAndrews is a shareholder with McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan, handling special education and estate planning matters in Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. She previously worked as a special educator in the Philadelphia area. Since that time… Read More »
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In response to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly every college and university in the country has announced it will move to remote learning . LDA is aware that this change raises many questions for students with learning disabilities. How will a student access course material? How will accommodations be made? LDA interviewed LDA Board Member, Manju Banerjee, PhD, Vice President of Educational Research and Innovation at Landmark College in Vermont and an expert on college students with disabilities, on how this move to remote learning may affect college students with learning disabilities. LDA: Dr. Banerjee, if a student has already been… Read More »
With schools moving to online instruction or closing for an extended period of time, there is a concern for students with disabilities, including learning disabilities like dyslexia, who receive services through an IEP or Section 504 Plan.
The Learning Disabilities Association of America has made its experts available to answer questions that concerned parents and educators have about how remote learning will affect a student with a learning disability. Read More »
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) applauds U.S. Representatives Chrissie Houlahan (D-PA) and Bruce Westerman (R-AR) on introducing the READ Act (Reading Early and Addressing Dyslexia Act). The bipartisan READ Act, modeled after a Pennsylvania program, creates a federal grant program for states to establish three-year early literacy and dyslexia pilots using evidence-based screening, evidence-based instruction, and intervention for students found to be at risk for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia. Read More »
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Martha Bernard, 96, President of ACLD (now LDA) in 1973-74. Martha passed the morning of January 31, 2020 at home in New York City after a brief decline. Her family members were with her. Martha was a founding member of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (ACLD, now LDA) and remained active in LDA. She was the current Secretary for LDA of New York and chaired the national Support Services Committee until 2018. Up until a few years ago, she attended national conferences–the last was Baltimore in 2010–when she could… Read More »
New report finds 95 percent baby food tested contains toxic chemicals that harm kid’s brains * The chemicals found in baby food – arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury – are neurotoxins that can permanently harm the developing brain, lower IQ, and affect behavior. Here are some tips to protect your family: 1) SNACKS: Puffs and other snacks made with rice flour are high in arsenic. Choose rice-free packaged snacks. Better yet, try these healthy snacks with fewer chemicals: apples, applesauce (unsweetened), bananas, barley with diced vegetables, beans, cheese, grapes (cut lengthwise), hard-boiled eggs, peaches, and yogurt. 2) CEREAL: Infant rice… Read More »
Over the last two years, LDA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee has spearheaded work on what will be a series of papers addressing our Core Principles for the Identification and Support of Individuals with Learning Disabilities. Recently, the Board approved the third core principle document, Best Practices in the Use of Cognitive Assessment in Learning Disability Identification. This paper was written with input from members of LDA’s Professional Advisory Board and experts in the field of learning disabilities. IDEA defines specific learning disabilities as disorders in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using… Read More »
On behalf of the members of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to personally invite you all to the 57th Annual International Conference of the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), Building Connections: Making Equity Accessible. Join us in sunny Orlando, Florida, February 17-20, to soak in information from three excellent keynote sessions and over 150 general sessions focused on topics of interest for individuals with learning disabilities, their families, and professionals that work in the field of learning disabilities and related disorders. Our exhibitors and networking sessions will round out the conference leaving you armed with information… Read More »
The LDA Nominating Committee is pleased to introduce the candidates who will be placed in nomination at the Assembly of Delegates during the Annual Meeting, February 19, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. The Committee worked diligently to select candidates who bring a variety of skills and experience to their respective positions and to the Board of Directors of the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Officers: Monica McHale-Small, President Monica McHale-Small is currently an Adjunct, Associate Professor of School Psychology at Temple University and project manager for Pennsylvania’s Dyslexia Screening and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot. She previously served as Director of Program… Read More »
Presented by: Collin Diedrich, Ph.D. Our presenter, Dr. Collin Diedrich has multiple learning disabilities and will share how the help he received at all levels of his academic journey allowed him to become the scientist he is today. Dr. Diedrich will share his story about overcoming the negatives associated with learning disabilities. He will also discuss how his learning disabilities helped him become a better scientist! He will discuss the importance of teaching empathy, self-advocacy, how to build on failures, how to overcome imposter syndrome, and how to be allies (jet packs!) to students that think differently. As long as… Read More »
