The holidays are here! No matter how your family celebrates, there’s a good chance you’re very busy with parties, family visits, travel, shopping, and more on your schedule. But LD Insights is here to help you catch up on learning disability (LD)-related stories you may have missed from national newspapers and blogs. In this edition, you’ll be inspired by one high-achieving dyslexic student athlete, hear more about the power of parent advocacy, and reflect on the role of homework for students with LD.

Fairview Family Fights to Get Daughter Diagnosed with Dyslexia (The Erie Times-News)
Michelle and Michael Plazony first recognized their daughter Erica was having trouble learning to read as a kindergartener. Sight words were a struggle, and she reported that words looked “funny” on the page. Her grades began to fall, and Mr. and Mrs. Plazony began to do research into what could be causing their daughter’s struggles. They learned about dyslexia and suspected it to be the cause, but were shut down when they tried to bring it up with school officials. It was just recently—after four years of advocacy from her parents—that Erica was diagnosed with dyslexia and started to receive the specialized teaching and accommodations necessary for school success. The Plazony’s story serves as important lesson to parents not to give up and to keep advocating for their children if they suspect something is amiss. Check out the full story at the Erie Times-News.

• Read the full story at the Erie Times-News.
• Learn more about LD evaluation at LD.org.

 

Bay City Western Swimming Sensation Kyleigh Rubis Learned to Overcome Obstacles While Dealing with Dyslexia (The Bay City Times)

Auburn, Michigan’s Kyleigh Rubis is preparing for the state’s high school swimming championship with a work ethic developed not only in the pool, but in the classroom. Rubis struggled with reading for many painful years before obtaining an official diagnosis of dyslexia. Now, she works with tutors and gets a variety of accommodations to assist her in school, and teachers and coaches admire her for the passion she has for success even when things are difficult. Read more of her inspiring story at The Bay City Times.

 

• Read the full story at The Bay City Times.
• Read more success stories from teens with LD at LD.org.

 

For Gifted Children with Learning Disabilities, Homework Can be Torture (The Washington Post)

Bonnie Beavers’ daughter was diagnosed with AD/HD and executive function disorder. Despite her daughter’s intelligence, many teachers suggested she was lazy because she was not able to complete repetitive homework tasks in a reasonable amount of time. Each night, getting homework done became a major struggle for the entire family. And when Ms. Beavers went to the school to request accommodations to lighten her daughter’s homework load, she was denied. What can parents do to make homework more manageable for their children with LD? Read the Beavers’ story in the Washington Post for some ideas.

 

• Read the full story at The Washington Post.
• Get tips to make homework more manageable for your child with LD at LD.org.