Healthy social and emotional skills are among the most consistent indicators of success for people with learning disabilities, even more so than academic factors. Your child’s ability to develop self-awareness, self-esteem, and coping skills, and to build meaningful friendships will have a positive impact now and throughout his or her life.
Don Deshler, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Research on Learning, at the University of Kansas discusses how the process of learning can affect a child's emotions, specifically children with learning disabilities. Contrary to what many might think, learning is not only a cognitive experience. More >
This e-book will help you protect your child from bullying and give you (and them) the information and tools needed to both ensure their safety and to help them be recognized and appreciated as a valued member of their school and general communities. More >
Sometimes a child’s perplexing behavior is one of the first clues that he has a learning disability. Even a child who’s been identified with LD and has academic support may act inappropriately. Consider sharing this toolkit with family members and other adults who help care for and supervise your child. More >
Our new e-book, 50 Questions About LD, is filled with answers to common LD questions. Topics include: how to deal with the “LD” label, RTI and working with your child’s school, the emotional impact of learning disabilities at school and home, preparing teens for college and work, and related issues like AD/HD and giftedness. More >
The Nature of Learning Disabilities
One of the hallmark features of learning disabilities (LD) is inconsistent performance. Research studies with children, adolescents and adults with LD frequently point to sometimes erratic and often confusing profiles of individuals who seem to b... More >
Any of this sound familiar? Your child's teacher tells you that your son is having trouble sitting still in class…Every day, homework turns into a teary-eyed, hair-pulling, paper-tearing tug o' war…Your teen is caught painting graffiti on the bathroom wall…You may be baffled by ... More >
As young children, we develop what are known as “scripts,” or abstract descriptions of a series of actions or events that are necessary to achieve an objective. Typical scripts a child may have include:
The format for a birthday party (i.e., you arrive, play games with others, ... More >
Thinking back on this past calendar year and the scores of studies and texts that I've read (OK, maybe skimmed) covering dozens of important topics, I am reminded of how frequently I found myself nodding my head in agreement with Dr. Samuel Kirk's observation of more than 30 years ag... More >
Children with learning disabilities (LD) grow up to be adults with LD. That is, many of the difficulties experienced in childhood continue throughout adulthood. Even so, some people with LD follow a life path that leads them to success. They become productive members of society. They ... More >
Self-esteem results from viewing yourself positively within the context of your surroundings. How well you get along with peers and family members and how you judge yourself in comparison with others shapes your self-esteem. Whether at home, school, or the workplace, how well you unde... More >
Learning to successfully interact with others is one of the most important aspects of a child's development, with far-reaching implications. Although most children acquire social skills by example, and possibly osmosis, research clearly suggests children with learning disabilities (L... More >
For many children, both with and without learning disabilities (LD), self-esteem is a powerful predictor of success. Social or emotional problems are not the cause but rather the consequence of academic frustration and failure. Not all students with an LD like dyslexia have problems ... More >
Positive self-esteem is as important to success in school — and eventually on the job — as the mastery of individual skills. And there's no question that doing something well helps a person feel better about themselves, their accomplishments, and their potential to succeed in the... More >
If there's something troubling about your child's behavior and academic performance, don't wait. Have a meeting with your child's teacher to discuss what might be going on. But if puzzling behavior persists, you can request that the school conduct a formal assessment to get to the he... More >
Are you:
Having difficulty adapting to new social situations;
Not being sure how to ask for help (and from whom);
Looking to peers for how to respond (rather than forming an independent opinion), and,
Missing social cues or having trouble reading nonverbal cues (for examp... More >
There's More to Life than School
School can be a tough place for kids with learning difficulties. Academic demands, coupled with feelings that he's different from his peers, can lead to stress and frustration and may be the first step on the road to damaged self-esteem. You know th... More >
An old man and a child went fishing on a river. No sooner had they gotten their lines into the water than they noticed a child floating down the river in distress. Quickly, they pulled the child into their tiny fishing boat. Soon another child came floating by, then another both of w... More >
The arts are more than a fun, superficial way to keep kids occupied. Art activities can help children with learning disabilities begin to overcome the challenges they face in learning in many different ways. Of course, having a learning disability does not necessarily mean that a pers... More >
"The primary need of all human beings is to be liked and accepted by other human beings," says Richard Lavoie, a nationally recognized expert in the field of learning disabilities. "These kids want to be liked by others." Children with learning disabilities (LD) don't just struggle i... More >
Success. It's what we all want for our children. Life success has something to do with health, education, gainful employment, meaningful relationships, and becoming a solid citizen in the community. But is it within reach for those with learning disabilities (LD) and is there a way to... More >
As you've looked for explanations for your child's puzzling behavior, you may have unintentionally laid blame where it should not rest. You may have caught yourself saying, "Try harder" or "You're being lazy" or thinking thoughts like this. But if your child is struggling with a learn... More >
The secret to success seems elusive to many people. Is there really a reliable roadmap to health and happiness? And if you have a learning disability (LD), do you need take a different course? Not really. Although research has identified several attributes that form the foundation of... More >
Adolescence is a trying time under the best of circumstances. For teens with learning disabilities, the daily and life-long struggles of coping with their disability-related symptoms can be wearing and dispiriting. Repeated failure, taunts from peers, and negative feedback from teache... More >
Research tells us that kids who struggle with learning worry a lot about whether they are "not as smart" as other kids, and are more likely to attribute their successes to luck than to well-deserved grades that result from hard work.What's a parent to do? For starters, help your child... More >
Individuals who are self-determined are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, able to evaluate their work and study environments, and successful at making informed decisions and solving problems that stand in the way of achieving their goals.Below are the stages in the process of b... More >
With each passing year, you no doubt take stock of the nutrients you're providing your child. Is your child getting enough fruits and vegetables? Are those weekly pizzas and Pop-Tarts putting her on a path to obesity? Does he need a multivitamin to make up for a sketchy diet?
But wha... More >
In earlier columns, I have written about the social-emotional side of learning disabilities, and drew attention to some characteristics and behaviors, also called success attributes, that have been shown to be important (even predictive) of success. As the summer months approach, I'm ... More >
Whether it comes in the form of rewarding work, a sound body and mind, caring relationships, or a close-knit community, there may be nothing you want more for your child than life success. But, when you see your child with LD struggle in school and perhaps with making (and keeping) f... More >
When it comes to success in life, academic achievement is certainly important, but it can only take you so far. If you don't know what you're good at, for example, how can you pick a major in college or choose a career path? If you don't have the ability to deal with a frustrating pro... More >
Social Skills
Self-confidence comes from knowing what you do well and using your unique strengths to accomplish your goals. Building successful social relationships may require that you use a different set of skills that may also be affected by your disability, such as the followin... More >
Are you a college-educated professional who can't imagine anything less for your child? Maybe you’ve even visualized the famous actor or successful surgeon, earning $300,000 a year. Perhaps goals like these are within reach for your child. But even if they're not, don't just give up... More >
Is your child or teen finding every excuse in the book to avoid going to school? Spending all her time alone? Having trouble eating or sleeping? Or, is something just not quite right, and you're not sure how to deal with it?Maybe it's time to think about seeking some professional help... More >
You've done some soul searching and decided that your child or teen with a learning disability (LD) might benefit from therapy. But with so many options available, what's the best approach to take?For some kids, just having a supportive place to go where they can talk and feel unders... More >
Success in life is about a lot of things: education, employment, meaningful relationships – and so much more. All parents hope their children will attain it. But most parents who have children with learning disabilities (LD) have at least one moment when they wonder whether their ch... More >
The dictionary defines the word asset as "a useful and desirable thing or quality." For a child, "assets" are their areas of strength. Over the last 20 years a number of research studies have been conducted that have identified 40 qualities or characteristics in youth that reduce the ... More >
The following is a transcription of the podcast, "A Parent's Perspective -- The Social and Emotional World of Children with LD."
In this podcast about the social and emotional world of children with learning disabilities (LD), Candace Cortiella (on behalf of the National Center for... More >
Self-esteem is a powerful predictor of success, but the daily struggles of learning disabilities (LD) can erode a child’s positive vision of themselves. But don’t despair: as a parent, there is a lot you can do to help your child develop positive self-esteem. Be sure to check out ... More >
In this podcast about the social and emotional world of children with learning disabilities (LD), Candace Cortiella, on behalf of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, talks with Judith Halden, a videographer and mother of young adult with learning disabilities. They discus... More >
What Is Stress?Everyone is affected by stress and reacts to it in different ways. Stress is a way that our body responds to the demands made upon us by the environment, our relationships, and our perceptions and interpretations of those demands. We all experience both "good stress" an... More >
Learning to successfully interact with others is one of the most important parts of a child’s development. This can be yet another stumbling block for children with learning disabilities (LD): many struggle to develop the skills they need to be competent in social situations. But as... More >
Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Jerome Schultz is the author of Nowhere to Hide: Why Kids with ADHD and LD Hate School and What We Can Do About It and is an expert on stress, learning disabilities, and AD/HD. In the following three scenarios, he takes you inside the brains of a parent,... More >
Life is not just about school, but sometimes having fun can be hard when it is connected with reading and math. These are a few apps that can help to minimize or remove the stuff that poses barriers to fun for the person with LD. We’ve looked at each of these tools and games, and we... More >
With mounds of homework, looming SAT tests, and worries about the future – being a teen in today's world can be incredibly stressful. Add a learning disability (LD) to the mix, and you've no doubt witnessed your fair share of short fuses. You can't eliminate stress altogether for yo... More >
The following is an excerpt from chapter 5 of the book Nowhere To Hide: Why Kids with ADHD & LD Hate School and What We Can Do About It, by Jerome J. Schultz, Ph.D.
It is the very characteristics of LD and AD/HD that make kids with these conditions so vulnerable to str... More >
Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Jerome Schultz is the author of Nowhere to Hide: Why Kids with ADHD and LD Hate School and What We Can Do About It and is an expert on stress, learning disabilities, and AD/HD. In the following three scenarios, he takes you inside the brains of a parent ... More >
Children and teens with learning disabilities sometimes have a hard time with social skills and behavior, including reading or communicating nonverbal signals. The following mobile apps may provide your child or teen with some high-tech support. Although we did extensive research on a... More >
My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
