Learning Disabilities Association of America

LDA’s Vision

LDA Visualizes a World in Which:

• All individuals with learning disabilities are empowered to thrive and participate fully in society

• The incidence of learning disabilities is reduced

• And learning disabilities are universally understood and effectively addressed

LDA’s Mission

LDA’s mission is to create opportunities for success for all individuals affected by learning disabilities and to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations.

LDA accomplishes its goals and objectives through its:

• Services - An array of specialized services designed to support and promote the success of individuals with learning disabilities across all aspects of life.

• Board of Directors - The Board of Directors and national committees are composed of individuals with learning disabilities, their parents and concerned professionals.

• Staff - The organization maintains a staff in its National Office located in Pittsburgh, PA and a Governmental Affairs Office located in Washington, D.C.

• Professional Advisory Board - The Professional Advisory Board offers counsel in professional and technical areas and is comprised of leading experts in the field of learning disabilities.

• Partnerships - LDA engages in an array of ongoing collaborative activities that support the organization’s work on behalf of individuals with learning disabilities.

• Position Papers - The organization’s Position Papers establish clear positions on critical issues of the day.

• Learning Disabilities Foundation of America - A tax-exempt public charity established in 1979 that is dedicated to providing funds for research and education and the promotion of public awareness of both children and adults with learning disabilities.

What LDA Does To Accomplish It’s Mission

• Promote Prevention - We believe that the number of individuals affected by learning disabilities can be reduced with an effective, comprehensive prevention plan. We encourage research that seeks to identify the causes of learning disabilities and disseminate research findings which could lead to the reduction of the incidence of learning disabilities.

• Foster Research in Best Practices - We encourage ongoing research efforts into recognition, assessment and intervention strategies throughout the lifespan. We monitor and disseminate these research findings.

• Encourage Identification - Too many people go through life unidentified. We advocate for early identification, which increases the possibility of successful intervention. We will continue to advocate for access to identification throughout the lifespan.

• Support Intervention - We strongly support best practice interventions for individuals with learning disabilities throughout the lifespan.

• Protect Rights - We are committed to advocating for and protecting the rights of all individuals with learning disabilities. This includes legislative advocacy for laws to improve and preserve the rights of all individuals as well as individual advocacy.

Services

Parent Support - Being a member of LDA can be an enormous support to the parents of a child with a learning disability. When parents initially discover that their child has a learning disability, they may have feelings of guilt, worry, uncertainty, self-pity and anger. There may be a lack of knowledge as to what the problem really is. Parents look for help, they may receive conflicting advice and become more confused and frustrated. Understandably, they may develop anger towards the community, schools, professionals and themselves. Parents may even deny the problem or blame each other. An LDA affiliate or information from LDA’s website and sources noted below can help parents understand and cope with their special child.

Information and Referral Network - An inquiry to the local affiliate, state office, or national LDA office may be a critical first step in providing help to a person with learning disabilities.

Through its Annual International Conference as well as state affiliate conferences and workshops LDA provides a forum for questions on learning disabilities and new technology and approaches for teaching individuals with learning disabilities. Attendance at the conferences, workshops, symposiums and support groups can reach thousands of participants yearly. Parents, teachers and other professionals and individuals with learning disabilities are the participants that gather for education, networking, and advocacy.

The LDA publication, Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, is a peer-reviewed publication oriented toward professionals in the field of learning disabilities. The journal publishes three times per year.

Legislation - LDA provides information and recommends action on pending legislation which may affect individuals with learning disabilities and/or their families. At the request of Congress, LDA representatives testify on matters relating to special education, literacy and employment programs. The organization holds and participates in numerous forums on legal rights of individuals with learning disabilities.

School Program Development - LDA and its state and local affiliates work with school systems to assure quality programs and better services for students with learning disabilities. LDA has offered scholarships to school principals as well as classroom teachers over the years in order for them to be able to attend the annual International Conference. LDA and its state affiliates frequently work directly with school systems in planning and implementing programs for early identification and diagnosis, as well as remediation in resource and special education classroom situations. Because of the relationship of learning disabilities to school drop-out and delinquency, the organization works with educators, correctional authorities and jurists in order to develop comprehensive approaches to education.

Adult Issues - LDA publishes materials on issues of importance to adults with learning disabilities on workplace issues, adult literacy, parenting, and assistive technology. A special series of bulletins addresses civil rights and accommodations in various settings, including college, the workplace and the military.