LDA Today - March/April 2015

I have been a member of LDA of America since the late 1980’s.  My very first exposure to the organization was the opportunity to attend an Annual International LDA Conference.  That conference literally changed my life.  I was able to interact with top researchers in the field of learning disabilities as well as teachers, parents, families, adults with learning disabilities, and those who serve them.  That first conference made a profound, fundamental imprint on my life, both personally and professionally.  For the past 52 years, LDA of America has been convening one of the most dynamic opportunities to which I… Read More »

Chicago was the place to be in February!  LDA of America hosted its annual International Conference for an excited and enthusiastic membership.  The conference was filled with many nationally known speakers who provided the latest information and research on learning disabilities. Members and attendees were provided a variety of activities in which to participate.   The conference began with a Members’ Reception on Tuesday evening, February 17. It was a time for members to be welcomed to the conference by national president Nancie Payne along with members of the LDA Board of Directors and Professional Advisory Board.  The reception afforded… Read More »

by LDA Adult Topics Committee   Students with learning disabilities who are seeking employment should request assistance for transitioning to work whether they are leaving high school, an adult education program, or college.  While each situation is unique, there are elements involved in transitioning to work that apply to all students with learning disabilities. Transitioning from any type of educational program to work is a process.  Students must begin this process early and be able to transfer knowledge of their learning disabilities into a world of employment. They should consider the potential impact of their learning disabilities on job performance,… Read More »

The process of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, currently known as No Child Left Behind) has been a long time coming.  Each federal education law must be reexamined through the reauthorization process, generally every five years, to determine if the law is working, if changes need to be made, or if it is no longer relevant or necessary. The process of reauthorizing the ESEA began in 2007, but without success.  Finally, the process appears to have gained momentum, although the end is not yet in sight.  Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor… Read More »

One of the highlights of each LDA Conference is the presentation of awards to our members who have accomplished outstanding feats in fulfilling the mission of the Learning Disabilities Association of America on behalf of all individuals with learning disabilities. The awards presented in Chicago at the 2015 52nd International Conference continued this practice. The following individuals were the recipients of this year’s awards. LDA President’s Award This award is given annually to the individual who has shown outstanding service to LDA during the year. The recipient this year is Bob Broudo, a person who deeply cares about people and… Read More »

The 52nd Annual LDA International Conference was held in Chicago, February 18-21, 2015, at the Hilton Chicago.  To paraphrase, the weather outside was frightful, but the conference inside was delightful. The member reception held Tuesday evening in the Waldorf Room at the hotel kicked off a week of exciting events.  LDA of Illinois provided beautiful table decorations consisting of hot air balloons anchored by a basket of markers.  Attendees were encouraged to select a balloon, write their state name on it, and encourage others to sign it as the evening progressed.  There are many advantages to membership with the conference… Read More »

The 25th Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) will be celebrated in July.  Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the bill in the Senate in May of 1988. It was passed by the Senate in September 1989 and the House of Representatives in May 1990. The House and Senate agreed to the joint conference committee version on July 12 and 13, 1990, respectively. The bill was then signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, July 26, 1990. The ADA has benefited many individuals since its historic passage and is celebrated annually by… Read More »

A growing coalition of LDA affiliates is playing an important role in national market pressure campaigns – which urge retailers to adopt chemical policies that identify and ban the use of chemicals of high concern from products they sell. Increasingly, some major retailers are taking responsibility for helping to get harmful chemicals out of consumer products, by requiring their suppliers to disclose use of toxic chemicals, and replace those chemicals with safer alternatives. The national “Safer Chemicals Healthy Families” coalition, of which LDA is a leading member, has been engaged for months in ongoing discussions with furniture makers and retailers… Read More »

Each year, LDA seeks support for our annual conference and this year was no exception.  It is very gratifying to receive the backing from these companies, schools and individuals in order that we are able to continue to provide this premier conference each year.  We are pleased to report the following generous donors who helped fund our 52nd Annual Conference in Chicago in February.  We are ever grateful for their support of our annual conference and of LDA. 

As students exit high school due to graduation with a regular diploma or due to exceeding the age eligibility for FAPE under State law, a local education agency …shall provide the child with a summary of the child’s academic achievement and functional performance, which shall include recommendations on how to assist the child in meeting the child’s postsecondary goals… according to §Sec. 300.305(e)(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. The Summary of Performance (SOP) must be completed during the final year of a student’s high school education. The SOP should contain Background Information, Student’s Postsecondary Goals, Summary… Read More »