
LD Social Skills Activities: Empower Kids to Build Meaningful Friendships
Social skills are the foundation of building friendships and developing confidence, making them essential for every child’s growth. These skills allow kids to connect with others, navigate social situations, and feel a sense of belonging in their communities. For children with learning disabilities, however, forming friendships can sometimes be more challenging. Difficulties with communication, interpreting social cues, or managing emotions may create barriers to building meaningful relationships. The good news is that with intentional strategies

The Power Of Vision Boards For Kids: Boost Creativity, Focus & Confidence
Have you ever found inspiration while reading a book or scrolling online? Remember the joy of clipping pictures from magazines as a child? Visual inspiration holds a unique power, allowing us to see our dreams rather than just thinking about them. Thoughts can be fleeting, but visual cues help us focus and stay motivated. This is why vision boards for kids are such an effective tool. They transform abstract goals into tangible, visual reminders, making

The Power of Gratitude for Children: Emotional Well-being, Social Skills, and Academic Success
Gratitude for children brings more than a sense of immediate joy; it leads to lasting benefits, such as better sleep, improved physical health, and greater resilience. The benefits of gratitude are especially significant for children with learning disabilities, as practicing gratitude daily helps them build emotional strength and positivity. The Social, Emotional, and Academic Benefits of Gratitude for Children Gratitude has a powerful impact on children’s overall well-being. Emotionally, it can boost self-esteem, resilience, and

How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting: A Guide for Parents
As a parent, preparing for an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s all new. But remember, your role is key to making this plan work. IEP meetings are essential for setting clear goals, identifying helpful accommodations, and ensuring everyone involved understands the child’s unique needs and strengths. By preparing ahead and being actively engaged, you’ll help ensure the IEP reflects the personalized support your child needs to thrive, setting a

6 Ways to Destigmatize Learning Disabilities and Celebrate Differences
Even though we all learn in our own way, there is a select number whose learning path is labeled differently. Their learning path is clouded with terms, stigmas, and misconceptions. 1 in 5 people are affected by learning disabilities. Even though this national celebration has been around since 1985, thanks to President Ronald Reagan, there are still many misconceptions and ‘unknowns’ about learning disabilities. LDA of Wisconsin‘s pursuit to raise awareness by informing, educating, and

Hidden Burden of School Absence
School is often considered as a job for our youth. They are expected to attend, learn, and perform. What happens when a child doesn’t show up for “work”? Children have independent learning goals but unfortunately, do not have a personalized learning path. Meaning, if they miss class, they are responsible for learning the material without a replay of the instruction they missed. Class continues regardless of who is in attendance that day. If a child

Key Classroom Foundations for Student Success All Year Long
Each new school year is full of preparation. School leaders plan training for school-wide initiatives, teachers transform their classrooms, and parents prepare their kids to go back to school. New goals are created based on the past year’s performance. It’s tough to decide exactly where to focus. In our experience, it comes down to two areas: student performance and school environment. Bring It Back to the Classroom Foundations. Classroom foundations should be the focus of

The Importance of Building Summer Routines.
School may be out but routines are necessary for children this summer. It may be tempting to let go of routines when summer hits but research shows this can make summer more difficult to manage. Sleeping in throws off bedtimes, snacking during the day interferes with nutritional eating, and no structure for activities can lead to boredom, innovative house destruction, or increased negative behaviors, not to mention when school starts in the fall, you’ll have

A Deeper Look Into Wisconsin’s System for Identifying Learning Disabilities
It can be tough to know when your child needs more support than the average learner. That is why Wisconsin has a system in place to monitor and identify learners with a learning disability. In our new resource, Robert Newby, Ph D. shares his knowledge and experience in Wisconsin’s effort to identify possible learning disabilities and the prevention of the long-term effects through Response to Intervention. Available to LDA of Wisconsin members through the Member Portal.

Is It Possible To Prevent Learning Disabilities?
What causes learning disabilities? Specific learning disabilities are caused by differences in the brain that affect how you process information, whether it is written or spoken, and abilities like how you listen, think, speak, read, write, spell and perform mathematical calculations. So what do we know about the brain that explains why this occurs? With new technologies, scientists have been able to identify brain growth patterns, ages of cognitive capacities, and are beginning

IEPs & 504 Plans Post-Executive Order: A Q&A with a Special Education Attorney
This Q&A is based on the most current information available shared during an April 9, 2025 webinar with Heidi Goldsmith of Bradley Goldsmith Law, a

Now is the Time: Stepping Up for Students with Learning Disabilities
Today’s students face immense challenges, but for those with learning disabilities, the barriers are even greater. With the right resources, these students can thrive—but without

LDA Webinar: Cognitive Control: ADHD and Dyslexia
Join us on April 30, 2025, 3:30pm ET, for Cognitive Control: ADHD and Dyslexia. Given the brain’s vertical organization, motor functioning is foundational for both

PFAS Chemicals
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals are used to make materials grease and water-resistant. These chemicals are also harmful to our health and are nicknamed

How the Special Education Teacher Shortage Affects Students with LD, and What to Do About it
Allison Gilmour, American Institutes for Research Loretta Mason-Williams, Binghamton University Elizabeth Bettini, Boston University The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education

The Potential Impact the Closure of the Department of Education would have on Children with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education plays a vital role in ensuring that children with disabilities receive the support, services, and legal protections they need to