The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) will honor Dr. Nancy Mather with The LDA Award at LDA’s 63rd Annual International Conference in St. Louis, MO. This award is the highest honor given by LDA, and is presented in recognition and appreciation of outstanding leadership, support and dedication in the field of learning disabilities.
For her entire career, Mather has been dedicated to serving individuals with learning disabilities through her teaching and scholarship. Mather is currently Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona in Tucson in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies, and has served as a learning disabilities teacher, a diagnostician, a university professor, and educational consultant.
“LDA is honored to present Dr. Mather with the 2026 LDA Award,” said LDA’s CEO, Cindy Cipoletti. “Dr. Mather has been a pioneer in the field of learning disabilities, and her contributions to the field have ensured that thousands of students succeed in school.”
“I have tried to determine the best ways to assess, help, encourage and support both children and adults with specific learning disabilities so that they can be successful in school and life. It has been such a rewarding career, and I thank LDA for this special recognition,” Mather said.
Mather was the last special education doctoral student of Dr. Samuel Kirk, who was known as “the father of learning disabilities,” for his significant contributions to the field.
“Dr. Kirk taught me about the children who were capable in so many ways but struggled to learn to read, write or do math,” Mather said.
Mather has published articles, books and workshops on assessment and instruction for learning disabilities, both nationally and internationally. Mather is also a co-author of the Woodcock-Johnson IV and V assessment systems.
LDA’s Education Director, Dr. Monica McHale-Small, said that one of Mather’s greatest contributions is her ability to translate complex research into practical tools for school psychologists and educators.
“From the start of her decades-long career, Nancy Mather’s work has directly shaped how learning disabilities are understood, identified and addressed in schools,” McHale-Small said.
Dr. Mather will receive the LDA Award on February 16, 2026 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel at the LDA International Conference, where she will also be presenting a lecture on the use and interpretation of the Tests of Dyslexia.
