Recent LD information in the news...

Special Education Office Moves Toward Measuring Student Outcomes  from Education Week

Thirty-nine states have garnered a "meets requirements" rating from the U.S. Department of Education's office of special education programs on the quality of their programs for students with disabilities. The federal special education office is moving to a system that will require states to demonstrate how they are working to improve the educational outcomes for students with disabilities. 

Six Ways to Get Your Child Back Into Learning from National Center for Learning Disabilities

For those with an LD—such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia—going back to school might be a return to the constant reminder that they are “different” from their peers. When school starts, not only must children with LD switch their brains from “relax mode” to “learn mode,” they must meet the challenge of gradually more complicated assignments, getting comfortable with new teachers and classroom environments, and they have to again work harder to complete tasks that their classmates appear to do with ease. 

Seven Facts About Learning Disabilities and Written Expression   from NCLD

Many people with learning disabilities (LD) struggle with written expression. For students with dysgraphia, the act of writing is difficult. Those with dyslexia often have serious difficulties with spelling. Also vulnerable are students who have weaknesses in areas such as vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension, word retrieval and information processing deficits. 

Dyslexia Advocates Call for Changes In Classrooms, Standardized Testing  from The Hartford Courant

Dyslexia advocates have had some success in the nation's capital and in changing the rules at some colleges and universities. Some colleges now allow dyslexic students extra time on exams and make other types of accommodations. In Washington, 55 lawmakers are currently part of a bipartisan Dyslexia Caucus.

Feds Urge Schools To Tackle Bullying Of Kids With Disabilities  from Disability Scoop

In new guidance sent to educators across the country, federal education officials say that schools may be liable if they don’t properly address bullying of students with disabilities. The guidance details the unique obligations that schools have under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to ensure that children with disabilities are not victimized.