When there is LD in the Family

Strong family supports are essential for the life success of students with learning disabilities.  This page presents the guidelines, information, and tools parents and other family members need to provide children with the educational, emotional, and social keys that will ensure positive family functioning and individual growth.

Introduction and Background Information
Research
Policy and Advocacy
Additional Resources on the Web 

Introduction and Background Information:

Parent Center NCLD created this comprehensive resource section for parents of a child with a learning disability (LD), or for parents who suspect their child may have a learning disability. The goal of the Parent Center is to empower parents with the information and tools they need to become informed and effective advocates for their children, both at home and at school.

Key Sections:
IDEA Parent Guide This guide to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created to help parents become informed and effective partners with school personnel in supporting the learning and behavioral needs of children with LD. Learn about your expanded parent rights and opportunities under this most recent special education law.  Access the IDEA Toolkit for checklists, sample letters and other helpful materials.

Parent Perspectives Read and listen to parents around the country as they share helpful tips and insights gleaned from their own experiences.

Resource Locator Utilize this user-friendly tool to find organizations and agencies in your area or nationwide that offer services to help you and your child.

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Research:

Reaching for Resilience: A Special Role for Parents of Children with LD (Research Roundup, May 2005) NCLD Director of Professional Services, Dr. Sheldon Horowitz provides a list of websites and materials that offer information about ’resilience’ and notes some fun and practical ways to engage your child in helpful activities outside the classroom to increase his/her chances for success during the school year and ensure positive family functioning. For a full list of archived columns, click here.

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Policy and Advocacy:

Advocacy Essentials: Parent Advocacy Briefs  Find information & resources that will help parents make the critical decisions that shape their child’s future - including briefs on High-Stakes Testing, Response-to-Intervention, Transition to College, and much more.

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Additional Resources on the Web:

Important websites:

Learning Abled Kids a resource and support site designed to provide information, curriculum resources, and tools to help teach your bright child with learning issues at home.

Family Education Network (Pearson plc) features resources for K-12 parents, educators, and students.

FocusonLearning.org (Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities -CCLD) guides parents step-by-step with practical tips and strategies in seeking the right supports for their child.

Parent Training and Information Centers (Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers) This website offers links to centers that provide training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and to professionals who work with children.

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER) The mission of PACER Center is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents.

PEAK Parent Center This center provides training, information, and technical assistance to equip parents with strategies to advocate successfully for their children with disabilities.

Parents Educating Parents & Professionals (PEPP Inc.) serves, supports, and advocates for parents and families of individuals with disabilities in a manner that is responsive to the cultural values of ALL families.

Student Progress Monitoring Resources for Families (U.S. Office of Special Education Programs)

Articles on Parental & Family Involvement:

How Parents Can be Advocates for Their Children with Learning Disabilities (National Association for School Psychologists)

Scientifically-based Research on Family Involvement (Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers)

Taking a Closer Look: A Guide to Online Resources on Family Involvement Network of Educators (FINE) (Harvard Family Research Center) This document contains Web links to research, information, programs, and tools from over 100 national organizations. It provides information about parenting practices to support children's learning and development, home-school relationships, parent leadership development, and collective engagement for school improvement and reform.

School, Family, and Community Partnerships (The Knowledge Loom, The Education Alliance at Brown University)

Essential Guide: A Parent’s Guide to Sibling Issues (SchwabLearning.org)

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