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As the parent or teacher of a child who has (or is suspected of having) a learning disability, it is often hard to know what to do first. It can be overwhelming when you first acknowledge that the child may learn differently and that you will have to provide specialized instruction and support. But don't panic! Many children, parents, and teachers have already faced similar challenges and there is a lot of good information available about how to help these children succeed in school, at home, and in the community.
The first logical step is simply to learn more about learning disabilities. What are they? What are the warning signs? What different types of learning disabilities are there? What can I do to help? Knowing the answers to these and other questions, you'll be able to decide the best actions to take. Just keep in mind that the worst thing to do is to wait and do nothing because the longer you wait to provide support, the more likely it is that the child will remain frustrated, continue to struggle, and fall further behind.
The following three articles should answer some of your initial questions. After that, continue on to other sections of this web site, where you'll find more detailed information and examples of actions that you can take.
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What Are Learning Disabilities? defines learning disabilities and answers common questions about them.
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Should I Be Concerned? lists possible warning signs of LD at different ages and explains why it is so important for parents to trust their instincts, not to wait, and to take action early
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 LD Checklist of Signs and Symptoms
Most people have problems with learning and behavior from time to time. During the school years, parents and educators should be on the alert for consistent (and persistent) patterns of difficulty that children and adolescents may experience over time as they may signal an underlying learning disability (LD). While variations in the course of development are to be expected, unevenness or lags in the mastery of skills and behaviors, even with children as young as 4 or 5, should not be ignored. And because LD can co-occur with other disorders, it's important to keep careful and complete records of observations and impressions so they can be shared among parent, educators and related service providers when making important decisions about needed services and supports.
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Grades K-8 