LDA joined with the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and 42 other national organizations to file an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in the Supreme Court case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. This case was the first reexamination of the “free appropriate public education” standard by the Supreme Court since the Rowley decision in 1982. Under the earlier case, the Court held that a child received a FAPE when the services provided to her “confer some educational benefit,” and this has consistently been the standard since that decision. The 10th Circuit which heard Endrew below applied a… Read More »
LDA News
Request for Comments: Proposed Guidelines on Accessibility of Digital Content
March 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
LDA has been asked by the Cognitive Task Force (COGA) of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to respond to its request for comments on the accessibility of digital content by individuals with learning disabilities. (This includes how someone with a learning disability accesses information or may take a test via a computer.) You are encouraged to share this request with other individuals (including parents, students, educators, and adults with learning disabilities) or groups who have insights into the needs of people with cognitive and learning disabilities. Comments may be submitted by individuals or groups. Please see below for details.… Read More »
Call to Action: Preserve Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act!
February 21, 2017 By 1 Comment
Contact your Congressional Representatives, State Legislators, and Governors NOW! Members and Friends of LDA, The House of Representatives is expected to introduce a bill to cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on February 27 and immediately to begin work on the bill in the House committee. The result would be two major blows to individuals with disabilities. Reach out to your federal and state legislators and the Governor’s office in your state and tell them that repealing the ACA and replacing it with a plan that CUTS Medicaid is unacceptable. People’s health, services, and lives are at stake! … Read More »
David Allsopp, PhD, Named Learning Disabilities Association of America Educator of the Year
February 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary-Clare Reynolds, LDA Executive Director mcreynolds@ldaamerica.org, 412.341.1515, ext. 206 David Allsopp, PhD, Named Learning Disabilities Association of America Educator of the Year/h3> Learning Disabilities Conference in Baltimore, Feb. 16-19 Pittsburgh, PA (February 13, 2017) – David H. Allsopp, PhD, will be presented the Sam Kirk Educator of the Year Award during the 54th Annual Learning Disabilities of America (LDA) Conference, Feb. 16-19, in Baltimore, MD. He is professor of special education at the University of South Florida, where he serves as coordinator of the doctoral program in special education at the university’s College of Education. Dr. Allsopp will be the… Read More »
Learning Disabilities Association of America Honors Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne with 2017 Sylvester Award
February 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary-Clare Reynolds, LDA Executive Director mcreynolds@ldaamerica.org, 412.341.1515, ext. 206 Learning Disabilities Association of America Honors Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne with 2017 Sylvester Award Learning Disabilities Conference in Baltimore, Feb. 16-19 Pittsburgh, PA (February 13, 2017) – LeDerick Horne of Somerset, NJ is being honored for his strong dedication and commitment to advancing the issues of adults with learning disabilities during the 54th Annual Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) Conference in Baltimore, MD. LDA’s Harry Sylvester Award recognizes an adult with learning disabilities and will be presented on Sunday, February 19, during the award brunch at the Baltimore… Read More »
Learning Disabilities Association of America Honors Houston Chronicle Reporter Brian Rosenthal with 2017 Media Award
February 13, 2017 By 2 Comments
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary-Clare Reynolds, LDA Executive Director mcreynolds@ldaamerica.org, 412.341.1515, ext. 206 Learning Disabilities Association of America Honors Houston Chronicle Reporter Brian Rosenthal with 2017 Media Award Learning Disabilities Conference in Baltimore, Feb. 16-19 Pittsburgh, PA (February 13, 2017) – Brian Rosenthal, Austin Bureau, Houston Chronicle is being honored by the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) for his investigative work on the article series, Denied: How Texas Keeps Tens of Thousands of Children out of Special Education (Houston Chronicle, Sept. 11, 2016.) The LDA Media Award recognizes Mr. Rosenthal’s “exceptional commitment to fair and accurate reporting on the issues that affect the lives… Read More »
“Journey from Instinct to Intellect,” Executive Director of Disability Rights Legal Center in Los Angeles to Speak in Baltimore at Luncheon for Adults with Learning Disabilities
February 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary-Clare Reynolds, LDA Executive Director mcreynolds@ldaamerica.org, 412.341.1515, ext. 206 “Journey from Instinct to Intellect,” Executive Director of Disability Rights Legal Center in Los Angeles to Speak in Baltimore at Luncheon for Adults with Learning Disabilities Learning Disabilities Conference in Baltimore, Feb. 16-19 Pittsburgh, PA (February 9, 2017) – Janeen Steel, J.D., an attorney with learning disabilities, will share her personal story, “Journey from Instinct to Intellect,” at a luncheon for adults with learning disabilities on Friday, February 17, at the Learning Disabilities Association of America’s (LDA) 54th Annual International Conference at the Baltimore (MD) Marriott Waterfront. Ms. Steel is the… Read More »
National Center for Learning Disabilities, Learning Disabilities Association of America Call on DeVos to Divest in ADHD Company, Citing Harmful Conflict of Interest
February 6, 2017 By 2 Comments
MEDIA CONTACTS: Marcia Griffith- Pauyo with NCLD: (646) 616-1210, mg@ncld.org Myrna Mandlawitz with LDA: (202) 686-1637, mrmassociates@verizon.net National Center for Learning Disabilities, Learning Disabilities Association of America Call on DeVos to Divest in ADHD Company, Citing Harmful Conflict of Interest Washington, DC (January 30, 2017) – The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) and the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) are calling on U.S. Secretary of Education nominee, Betsy DeVos, to immediately withdraw her significant financial holdings in Neurocore to avoid a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety. Neurocore is a company that claims – without any rigorous research… Read More »
LDA Legislative News – January 2017
January 28, 2017 By 1 Comment
DeVos Nomination Slows, Still on Track The Committee confirmation vote on Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos is now scheduled for January 31. While critics of her nomination continue to fight, a week’s delay beyond the original date for a vote should not necessarily be interpreted to mean her confirmation is in jeopardy. In fact the delay was most likely provided to allow Committee members to review extensive financial disclosures released since the public hearing on DeVos’s nomination earlier this month. In response to a request for a second hearing for DeVos from Democratic members of the Senate Health, Education,… Read More »
Executive Function and the Reading Brain Keynote
January 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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 Legislative News – December 2016
December 16, 2016 By 1 Comment
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
December 13, 2016 By 4 Comments
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
November 25, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
November 1, 2016 By 1 Comment
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
October 25, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
October 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
September 28, 2016 By 5 Comments
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
September 27, 2016 By 23 Comments
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
July 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
June 17, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
May 27, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
May 20, 2016 By 1 Comment
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
April 21, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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
April 5, 2016 By 1 Comment
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
January 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment
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 »
