MEDIA CONTACT: Mary-Clare Reynolds, LDA Executive Director mcreynolds@ldaamerica.org, 412.341.1515, ext. 206 Executive Function and the Reading Brain Keynote Learning Disabilities Conference in Baltimore, Feb. 16-19 Pittsburgh, PA (January 24, 2017) – Leading researchers in two primary areas of importance to educators, professionals, parents, and individuals with learning disabilities will bring their findings and knowledge to the Learning Disabilities Association of America’s (LDA) 54th Annual International Conference on February 16-19 at the Baltimore (MD) Marriott Waterfront. “Executive Function: A Foundation for Learning and Adaptation” will be addressed on Friday, Feb. 17, by Philip Zelazo, Ph.D., the Nancy M. and John E. Lindahl Professor… Read More »
LDA News
Leading Authority Edward Hallowell, M.D. Keynotes Conference on Learning Disabilities Feb. 16-19 in Baltimore
One in five children struggle with learning disabilities (LD) and attention issues. The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), founded in 1963, is uniquely qualified to assist individuals with LD and their support systems in finding solutions to maximize potential across the lifespan. LDA’s 54th Annual International Conference on February 16-19 at the Baltimore (MD) Marriott Waterfront is a comprehensive resource for parents, educators, adults with LD, and professionals. Read more…
LDA Legislative News – December 2016
Congress Punts on Appropriations For the past several years Congress has failed to complete the appropriations process on time. The appropriations process involves setting spending for the federal fiscal year. With the federal fiscal year beginning on October 1, Congress must establish spending for all federal programs and activities by September 30 or risk a government shutdown. To avoid a shutdown, Congress passed a short-term bill known as a Continuing Resolution (CR) which expired on December 9, but now they have delayed final spending decisions for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 2017) until the end of April. With the Republican party… Read More »
Testing Accommodations for ADHD: Evidence that the Status Quo is Ineffective
Here at LDA, we’re very proud of our quarterly journal, Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal. The following is an excerpt from a study published in our most recent issue. Access to the entire article is free through December 20th and can be found by clicking here. If you’d like more information about the Journal, please head over to Sagamore Publishing for more information. By: Alison Pritchard, Ph.D., ABPP ADHD is the most common psychiatric condition of childhood, with prevalence estimated at 1 in 11 American youth (Pastor et al., 2015). Students with ADHD present an enormous concern for educational policy-makers,… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – November 2016
Election Impact on Disability Policy Unclear It is too soon to tell what impact the change in Administration will have on disability policy. LDA will have a better sense once decisions are made about who will lead the Cabinet agencies, including Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice. However, as has always been the case, LDA will meet the Administration and members of Congress where they are and advocate for strong policies that positively affect the lives of individuals with learning disabilities. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, LDA cannot engage in partisan political activity. In fact, LDA members represent a… Read More »
LDA Responds to Houston Chronicle Investigation
In response to the article, Denied: How Texas Keeps Tens of Thousands of Children out of Special Education (Houston Chronicle, Sept. 11, 2016), the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) is expressing concerns about the harmful implications of placing a cap of 8.5 percent on the number of students identified as needing special education in Texas… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – October 2016
Congress Delays Action on Final Spending Bills In what has become an annual ritual, Congress left Washington in early October with the country operating under a continuing resolution (CR). The CR, a stopgap measure that funds the government until Congress completes work on the 12 appropriations (spending) bills, will expire on December 9. The CR also included final funding for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, leaving 11 appropriations bills awaiting action. The decision for Congress when it returns for the post-election lame duck session is whether to extend the CR or to finalize appropriations for Fiscal Year 2017… Read More »
JAN Drives Disability Inclusion in the Workplace with Free Online Accommodation Toolkit
MEDIA CONTACT: Lou Orslene @ 800-526-7234 Ext. 135 or Anne Hirsh Ext. 112 JAN’s Workplace Accommodation Toolkit offers disability-related guidance for U.S. businesses. Morgantown, WV (October 14, 2016) – The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), the leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues, has developed an online tool to help U.S. businesses successfully recruit, hire and retain applicants and employees with disabilities. The newest addition to JAN’s suite of products, the Workplace Accommodation Toolkit packages JAN’s deep knowledge into an online platform with the information businesses need to create inclusive workplaces while complying with disability-related… Read More »
Pre- and Post-Job Offer Questions: Guidance for Employers and Human Resource Personnel
Download/Print Pre- and Post-Job Offer Questions: Guidance for Employers and Human Resource Personnel Info Sheet Introduction According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers and their human resource personnel are limited in the types of questions they can ask during the pre- and post-job offer phase of employment. Specifically, this refers to disability-related questions as well as requirements for medical examinations. The act does not allow employers to ask disability-related questions or require medical exams until after a conditional job offer is made. During the Pre-Job Offer Stage The pre-job offer stage includes both the job application and the job… Read More »
Disclosing Your Learning Disability
Download/Print Adults with Learning Disabilities – Disclosing Your Learning Disability Info Sheet What is disclosure? In a disability context, “disclosure” is the act of revealing personal information about a disability for the specific purpose of receiving accommodations in postsecondary school, job training, or the workplace. An accommodation is an adjustment to an environment which makes it possible for people with disabilities to participate equally. There is no standardized form or set of requirements regarding what people must share about their disabilities, and the choice to disclose is a personal decision that individuals with disabilities must make for themselves. They should decide to whom they choose to disclose and how much information to provide. When should you… Read More »
LDA is Proud to co-lead Project TENDR
Project TENDR Releases Consensus Statement about Toxic Chemicals and Brain Development For the first time, leading scientists, medical experts, and health advocates have reached consensus that scientific evidence clearly shows toxic chemicals are contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders. On July 1 st , a consensus statement was published in EHPonline which outlines the risks and actions that can be taken. This agreement among leading scientists and health experts would not have been possible ten years ago, but the research is now abundant and clearly shows that toxic chemicals are a serious threat to brain development. TENDR is led by Co-Directors Maureen… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – June 2016
Education Department Proposes ESSA Regulations The U.S. Department of Education has issued draft regulations to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and now the public gets to comment. The regulations address school accountability, data reporting, and consolidated State plans. In May the regulatory process began with a panel of negotiators examining draft regulations related to assessment and supplement-not supplant rules. The panel was only able to agree on draft regulations on assessment, but the Department has not included those in the current package. “Adequate yearly progress” and other features of the federal accountability system included in No Child Left… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – May 2016
Proposed Disproportionality Regulations Problematic The U.S. Department of Education wants to identify and help states and local districts address occurrences of significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity in the way they identify and place students with disabilities and impose disciplinary actions. LDA has responded to the Department’s request for comments on proposed regulations to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to ensure equity in the application of the law. The proposed regulations are targeted at helping states determine when significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity occurs in identifying children as children with disabilities in certain disability categories and… Read More »
LDA Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
LDA has responded to the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed regulations on significant disproportionality. The Department proposed a complicated uniform mathematical calculation and expanded use of “early intervening” funds for pre-K and students with disabilities. After much consideration, LDA opposed the adoption of a uniform methodology, noting that any “formula” for calculating significant disproportionality of racial and ethnic groups in special education must be flexible and account for the broader variables that may contribute to the overrepresentation.
LDA Legislative News – April 2016
ESSA Negotiated Rulemaking Success Unclear The top priority for the chairmen of the House and Senate education committees for the remainder of the year is the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Enacting the comprehensive bipartisan bill in December 2015 was a major accomplishment after several previous attempts had failed over the last eight years. Now the focus is on ensuring States implement the law as Congress intended, and the U.S. Department of Education clarifies that intent without going beyond the statutory requirements. The negotiated rulemaking process (described in detail in the March issue of LDA Legislative News)… Read More »
LDA takes Action on Flint Crisis
One of the main reasons individuals join LDA is its strong advocacy for the health, safety, and education of children. When LDA learned of the dire situation with the water supply in Flint, Michigan, and the serious effects of high lead levels on children, a workgroup of LDA members sprang into action to support families in that community. Members of the LDA Public Policy Committee and the Professional Advisory Board (PAB) joined together to compose a letter (click here to see the letter) that has been sent to national news media including the New York Times, Washington Post, and the… Read More »
LDA Mourns the Loss of President Nancie Payne
It is with a very heavy heart that LDA announces the passing of our President and fearless leader, Nancie Payne. Nancie, who would have finished up her two-year term as President during our Orlando Conference next month, died December 27th after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. Over the years, Nancie served at various levels in LDA, including being a member of the Professional Advisory Board, as well as serving on several committees such as Adult Topics (Chair), Conference Program (Chair twice), Finance (Chair), and Support Services. She also served on the Board of the LDA of Washington state affiliate. She embodied… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – November 2015
ESEA Moves Toward Final Action After numerous attempts over several years, Congress appears ready to finalize the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESEA, first enacted in 1965 to provide compensatory education for minority and low-income children, has grown to include educator preparation, education for English language learners, and other aspects of a well-rounded K-12 education. Congressional leaders hope to complete work on the latest version of this important law by the end of the calendar year. A conference committee of members of the House and Senate education committees met in late November to reach agreement on… Read More »
October Webinar: Stress!! The Missing Piece of the LD/ADHD Puzzle, What to Know and What to DO!
Stress!!! The Missing Piece of the Puzzle, What to Know and What to DO! Presented by: Jerry Schultz, Ph.D. In this interactive webinar, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Harvard Medical School faculty member Dr. Jerome (Jerry) Schultz will explore the impact of stress on learning and behavior in students with learning disabilities and associated ADHD. Tune in to learn why the brains of kids with LD and ADHD are at risk and what we can do about it. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get some very practical and sensible advice from a seasoned professional (and former special education… Read More »
Keynote and Featured Speakers Announced for 2016 Conference
LDA is proud to announce our Keynote and Featured Speakers for the 53rd Annual International LDA Conference being held in Orlando, Florida.
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Adults with Learning Disabilities – An Overview
Learning disabilities (LD), sometimes referred to as “specific learning disorders,” are life-long, but adults who have LD can experience great success in all aspects of life when using their strengths together with the strategies, accommodations and technology that are most appropriate and effective for their individual needs. Read more…
Deadline is Looming –August 31 – to Nominate 2016-17 Officers and Board of Directors
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LDA Legislative News – August 2015
Advocates Mark 25th Anniversary of ADA On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into the law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The effort to end institutional discrimination against individuals with disabilities was a true bipartisan effort, with Republican Senator Lowell Weicker as the Senate sponsor and Democratic Representative Tony Coehlo sponsoring the House version. Now on the 25th anniversary, the ADA continues to provide protections for individuals with disabilities in hiring, public accommodations, healthcare, education and other arenas and has served as a model for other countries as they move to enact similar laws. While… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – June 2015
Deal Needed to Save Education Funding Congress has begun its deliberations on spending – “appropriations,” in congressional parlance – for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 which begins on October 1, 2015. The first step in the long process involves consideration of funding bills by the 12 appropriations subcommittees, one of which is Labor-Health and Human Services-Education. That bill contains most all the programs LDA follows. The House Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee led off in mid-June with passage on a party-line vote of a draconian bill that would significantly reduce spending for most education programs. Overall funding for discretionary programs in the Department… Read More »
The Reading Brain: Executive Function Hard at Work
by Linda R. Hecker When I talk with educators across the country, they often lament that students don’t read much anymore, especially in the face of ubiquitous social and multimedia distractions. Even students with intact decoding and fluency complain that reading is just too hard, not worth the effort. Why is reading such a challenge for so many? One often overlooked factor is the role that executive function plays when we engage with text. Broadly put, executive function (EF) describes the cognitive processes that regulate self-directed behavior toward a goal. Anytime we plan, prioritize and organize; maintain effort and focus over… Read More »
