FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2006

Laurie Fry, NCLD
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503.399.7999

National Center for Learning Disabilities Launches Online Parent Center

New Center Features Unique
Interactive Guide and Real Stories

New York, NY " Parents of children who struggle to learn and may be at risk for learning disabilities face a bewildering labyrinth of federal laws, school and state policies, and personal choices. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has just launched a new, online Parent Center to help parents navigate the special education system and successfully advocate for their children. The Center was created to serve a wide range of needs " from parents who are just beginning to suspect that their child may have learning issues to parents who already have children receiving special education services.

"’Knowledge is power," says NCLD Executive Director James H. Wendorf. "Parents who understand the system and the laws that govern it will best be able to navigate through the maze of choices and challenges and get their children the help they need. Our new Center is designed to help parents gain that understanding and know what steps they can take to help their children succeed."

"Having the right information is absolutely critical in making the best choices for your child," says Candace Cortiella, a parent of an adult child with a learning disability, member of NCLD's Professional Advisory Board, and author of the Parent Center's new IDEA Guide. "Discovering that your child has learning issues can be isolating and upsetting for parents, too. Part of what we wanted to do was create a sense of community, so parents can feel empowered to be effective advocates for their children."

The Parent Center features a first-of-its-kind interactive guide to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004. The guide uses accessible language to help parents recognize their rights and opportunities in the special education process. One of the guide's unique features is a series of audio clips that feature parents who share their experiences on a specific topic and provide advice and support. The guide's 11 chapters cover how to request an evaluation, determine eligibility, and develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP), among other topics.

The Parent Center also includes a wealth of articles about parenting children with learning disabilities, stories from other parents that illuminate certain issues, and essential background information for advocacy, such as high-stakes testing and Response to Intervention (RTI).

NCLD's Parent Center is made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NCLD's Board of Directors and other committed parents and supporters.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that the nation’s 15 million children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities have every opportunity to succeed in school, work, and life. NCLD provides essential information to parents, professionals, and individuals with learning disabilities, promotes research and programs to foster effective learning, and advocates for policies to protect and strengthen educational rights and opportunities. NCLD's Web site was named a 2006 Official Honoree in the prestigious Webby Awards competition. For more information on NCLD, please visit us on the Web at www.LD.org.