New PBS Show About Dyslexia
New PBS show about dyslexia
Reading and the Brain, with Henry Winkler
Hosted by Henry Winkler, who has had his own struggles with reading, Reading and the Brain explores how brain scientists are working to solve the puzzle of why some children struggle to read and others don't. New research shows the answer may lie in how a child's brain is wired from birth.
This program is the newest episode of Launching Young Readers, a television series produced by our sister site ReadingRockets.org. This award-winning collection of innovative half-hour programs examines how children learn to read, why so many struggle, and what we can do to help.
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watch online >>
order your copy now >>
New regulations for special education
As you may have heard, there have been major changes in the primary federal law governing special education. The final regulations under that law — known as IDEA 2004 — will take effect on October 13.
learn more about IDEA >>
Highlights of the new law include:
- Changing how children are identified as learning disabled. A state’s criteria must not require the use of a "severe discrepancy" between intellectual ability and achievement as part of LD determination and must permit the use of a process based on a child’s response to scientific, research-based interventions.
- Requiring highly qualified special education teachers. Special education teachers who teach core academic subjects must be “highly qualified” in special education and in the academic subjects they teach.
We have much more information about the changes in the new law in this article:
The U. S. Department of Education is holding a series of six public meetings all over the country (between September 26 and November 2, 2006) to brief parents, educators, and policy-makers about the new regulations, including information about resources and support. Meetings will be held in the evening and will include a reception where officials from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will be available to meet attendees.
view the schedule >>
Accommodations for the GED
The national office of the General Educational Development Testing Service (GEDTS) has developed a new brochure called Tips for Candidates with Disabilities, which provides information for people who wish to take the GED test. The brochure lists accommodations available for people with disabilities and provides information on how to request them. Specific forms are available for people with learning and other cognitive disabilities and for people with ADHD:
- Requests for Testing Accomodations: Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities
- Requests for Testing Accomodations: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
This fall GEDTS will disseminate the brochure to official GED Testing Centers, and it will continue to monitor its state and local offices to ensure that they are aware of the policies and improve access for people with disabilities.
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Hello from Dale Brown, the new editor
I want to introduce myself to you in my new role as senior manager of LD OnLine and editor of this newsletter. My goal is to serve you well and — as Noel Gunther, our executive director, has said — to "find good information; to present it well; to respond when you contact us; and, above all, to get things right." Before joining the team here, I wrote books and articles to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. My key role was leading the self-help movement for people with learning disabilities, which alerted the field to issues such as employment, social skills, and validating assessments so they work for adults. Now, I am working for the field as a whole to serve all of you — teachers, parents, people with learning disabilities, family members, and anyone who has an interest in making things better for people with learning disabilities. Write me with ideas for articles and with information that you would like the field to know: dbrown@weta.com
Featured articles
From Louise Spear-Swerling
- Comprehension Assessment
Louise Spear-Swerling makes recommendations to practitioners on how to use reading comprehension tests for students K-12. She describes the problems with the tests and proposes practical solutions.
For parents
- Motivation: The Key to Academic Success
How do you motivate your child to succeed in school? This article explains reasons why some children seem to lack motivation. It recommends helping your child to be motivated by the work itself (internally motivated) rather than by rewards and "reinforcers" (externally motivated). Ten tips for parents are at the end of the article.
For teachers
- Lazy Kid or Executive Dysfunction?
This article has practical tips for teachers to help students with "Executive Dysfunction," a term which refers to difficulties with planning, flexibility, organization, and self-monitoring.
For people with learning disabilities
- Tips for Workplace Success
This article has simple, helpful suggestions for success in employment. Topics include getting hired, obtaining accommodation, and producing excellent work. This article focuses on people who work for larger organizations.
People with learning disabilities: Please send us your first person stories!
If you have written a story about yourself that you believe will help others, please send it to us for inclusion in our First Person section. The story must be true and describe your experience, your lessons learned, and what you believe will be useful for parents, teachers, and other people with learning disabilities.
go now >>
Expert advice
Matt Cohen answers questions for our readers about legal issues related to learning disabilities. Parents will find information on how to work with schools on getting the best possible education for their child.
read more >>
In the news
- Many ADHD Pupils Excluded
- Parents Fight Dyslexic Son's Placement
- Regulations on '2 Percent' Testing Awaited
View more headlines in LD News >>
New in our Yellow Pages
Professionals
Products
Schools
- Bright Minds Institute
- EBL Coaching
- Forman School
- Havern School
- Norbel School
- Park Century School
- The Winston School
Advertise in the LD Online Yellow Pages
Reach more than 200,000 parents and professionals each month. Since 1996, LD OnLine has been the number one source of trusted information for parents and professionals.read more >>
All the best from LD OnLine!
- Noel Gunther, Executive Director
- Dale Brown, Senior Manager
- Kelly Deckert, Web Coordinator
- Joanne Meier, Ph.D., Research Consultant
- Lia Salza, Editorial Associate
- Jess Snyder, Manager, Web Services
