In my first few posts in the Out-of-the-Box Advocacy series, I shared about how using non-traditional advocacy methods like social media, email, and blogging can spark a new conversation about LD beyond your school IEP and 504 plan meetings. Today, I focus on how to create change for kids with LD right in your own backyard.

“Out-of-the-Box Advocacy” is all about finding ways to start conversations about LD in an effort to raise awareness, remove stigma, and encourage others to embrace your child for who they are, despite their disabilities. While starting a blog or tweeting about LD-related topics may seem difficult for some, sometimes the hardest part of advocacy for many parents is actually talking about the realities of LD within their very own communities. Read More >

The day I finally got an Individualized Education Program (IEP), I was in my junior year of high school. Now, I understand that when people think of a student who has an IEP, they usually think of a young child in elementary school. Unfortunately, for me, that wasn’t the case. For many years, my family and I tried to figure out my diagnosis and get me an IEP, but this process took longer than anyone could have imagined. After many visits to the neuropsychologist, I was finally diagnosed with dyslexia, AD/HD and auditory processing disorder. Read More >

When you hear the term “Individualized Education Program (IEP)” you might automatically think of a young child. I know I did…until, that is, I stood by my daughter as she received her first IEP at the beginning of high school.   Read More >

For those who did not have the chance to tune in, NCLD held an informational webinar on February 20, 2013 to inform parents like you of the changes that this year’s Congress will bring, how these changes will impact students with learning disabilities (LD), and how you can help ensure that your child will receive anequal, high-quality education. The 113th Congress will continue to work on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind. Workforce issues and federal job training programs will be a particular focus this year, and of course, balancing the 2013 federal budget is a issue at the top of the Congressional priority list. Read More >

We're pleased to share a new video blog from Friends of Quinn, an online community that offers resources and support for young adults with LD and the people who love them. The video features Robert, a young mechanic in Philadelphia who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) as a child. Although Robert was bullied in school, it didn't it stop him from success. Watch his inspiring story below. Read More >