Parents and teachers will learn to remove roadblocks and create pathways to support children with learning disabilities/ADHD in the classroom and home in a one-day regional workshop presented by the Learning Disabilities Association of America in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Oct. 14, and in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 4. The track for general education teachers “Removing Roadblocks – Understanding and Supporting Students with LD/ADHD in the Mainstream Classroom” will feature Allen Broyles, LDA Board of Directors, Assistant Head of School, The Children’s School, Atlanta, Georgia, and Scott Hamilton, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Head of School and High School Principal, The… Read More »

 by: Analisa Smith, 2nd Vice President of LDA Students are starting back to school for a new school year. Parents and teachers will be looking for tips to start the school year off right. This is a great opportunity for affiliates and local chapters to reach out to parents and educators with back to school tips for students with learning disabilities.  Review and Know the IEP The IEP lays out what the student should be learning and the focus of instruction for the academic year. Make sure the IEP still follows the student’s need and the accommodations are relevant. Know… Read More »

by Myrna Mandlawitz, LDA Public Policy Director Without the advantage of knowing first the total amount they have to spend for the next fiscal year, the House Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Subcommittee went ahead to develop a bill for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY 2018) $5 billion below the current budget cap.  Within a week after the subcommittee vote, the full House Appropriations Committee approved basically the same bill, which cuts U.S. Department of Education programs by $4.2 billion (6.2%) below the current funding level. This House committee action is just one step in the process of determining final spending… Read More »

by Maureen Swanson, Healthy Children Project Director In late July, LDA leaders traveled to Washington, DC, along with colleagues from health, labor and community justice groups, to advocate for a ban on the nerve-damaging pesticide “chlorpyrifos” – widely used on fruit and vegetable crops across the country.  Scientific studies overwhelmingly find that prenatal and early childhood exposures to chlorpyrifos, even at low levels, disrupt children’s brain development and can result in loss of IQ, problems with behavior and attention, and learning and developmental disabilities. LDA was invited to participate in Senator Tom Udall’s press conference, held July 25 on the… Read More »

The work to develop a slate of officers and board of directors for presentation at the LDA 2018 Assembly of Delegates in Atlanta is now underway. The nominating committee is searching for candidates with leadership and team-building skills as prospective leaders for our organization. A commitment to work for the goals of LDA is a requirement for those who will fill these positions. Nomination forms were distributed in May and are available through your state affiliate or the national office info@ldaamerica.org. Your help is needed to find worthy candidates and to submit completed applications to the nominating committee. The deadline for submission of forms is August 31. The Board of Directors is the governing body of LDA that enacts policies, adopts plans, monitors programs and services, and sets priorities of the organization subject to the approval of the Assembly of Delegates. Prospective candidates must be members of LDA in good standing. Board responsibilities include attending board meetings, helping to establish the organization’s policy, serving on and/or chairing committees, supporting financial appeals, and working to further the goals of LDA. Board members may be called on… Read More »

This award honors and recognizes an adult with learning disabilities who has shown a strong dedication and commitment to advancing the issues of adults with learning disabilities. It is the wish of LDA to thank, in Harry Sylvester’s name, an adult with learning disabilities for his/her commitment to those living with learning disabilities. The Harrison Sylvester Award was created in 2010 to honor Harry Sylvester, a gentle but strong voice in the field of learning disabilities. Harry discovered in his mid 50’s, after struggling for most of life, that he was an adult with learning disabilities. With the knowledge of his… Read More »

Candace Joles, Adult Topics Committee Co-Chair Throughout the K-12 education of a student with learning disabilities (LD) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), s/he is under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) federal law with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which ceases to exist as soon as the student exits high school. However, if a student with LD and/or AD/HD does not qualify for an IEP, a 504 Plan (under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) may be initiated in the K-12 system. A 504 Plan follows the person throughout his/her life (i.e., postsecondary and work). See… Read More »