Think about when you first became concerned about your child’s learning or behavior. Maybe your child kept bringing home poor grades and was just not meeting grade-level standards. Perhaps you noticed that your child seemed sensitive and upset when it was time to go to school or do homework. Or maybe you picked up on other warning signs your child displayed. Who did you talk to about your concerns? If you answered “our family pediatrician,” you’re like a lot of parents. Now, NCLD has a new resource—the LD Navigator, an online, comprehensive, clinical tool, developed by the field’s leading experts—that enables pediatric professionals and parents to navigate a child’s learning disability. Read More >

With work, kids, and family, many parents barely have time for themselves, much less time for staying on top of what’s happening in Washington D.C. The workings of government can seem so far away from the routine of daily life, yet what Congress does has a very real impact on you and your family. When Congress takes up laws that invest in childhood literacy or that protect students from restraint and seclusion at school, children all around the country are affected. That’s why we’re here – to keep you informed, to alert you to important issues affecting your child, and to advocate for you and for all children with learning disabilities (LD). We are the NCLD Public Policy team and we fight for you, each and every day.

In the last month, we’ve focused intensely on high school graduation with our new report Diplomas at Risk: A Critical Look at the Graduation Rate of Students with Learning Disabilities. Nationally, only 68 percent of students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) graduate from high school with a regular high school diploma. In a few states, the situation is even worse. In Nevada, for example, only 25 percent of students with SLD graduate with a regular high school diploma. Yes, you read that right, only 25 percent. Our report includes data for every state so that parents can check where their state stands. Although parents may think that high school is a long way off, we’ve found that children as young as 2nd and 3rd grade are at risk for being tracked into educational paths that do not lead to a regular high school diploma. Read More >

In my first two posts in the Everyday Decisions series, I talked about how to make traveling for kids with learning disabilities (LD) and other special needs more fun and less painful for the entire family. Today, we’ll focus on some great ways to get kids challenged by LD involved in sports in a way that works best for them and the entire team.

Have you faced challenges when it comes to getting your kids with LD or other special needs engaged with sports? The world of competitive athletics these days, even for school-aged kiddos, can be both rewarding and uber-competitive. But for kids with AD/HD, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders and other developmental and learning differences, finding a way to fit in and get up to speed in a team setting can prove to be extra challenging.
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Happy Mother’s Day, moms! This year, we send you the gift of cuteness. It's so adorable and funny, in fact, we’re surprised you can’t hear us gushing and cracking up all the way from our office in New York City.

Behold the pinnacle of cute: Our Mother’s Day video tribute to you, featuring third graders from The Summit School, a Queens school dedicated to supporting children with learning challenges. These kids adore their moms — but sometimes for reasons you wouldn’t expect! Hear how these third graders express their love for mom (or, in the case of one child, disapproval of grandma’s lipstick!).
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If you don’t have a high school diploma, chances are that your job prospects suffered greatly during the last few years. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, total employment for workers without a high school diploma fell by a staggering 14% from 2008 to 2013. Moreover, the jobs that were available didn’t pay very well – workers without a high school diploma took home an average of only $471 a week. Read More >