LDA virtual panel

Data, including NAEP scores, graduation rates and college completion rates indicate that despite their potential, students with SLD are often not succeeding. Special schools can play an important role and should be part of a solution, and can partner with public schools in a number of ways to improve outcomes for all students. 

In this virtual panel, Dr. Douglas Fuchs, Emeritus Nicholas Hobbs Chair of Special Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University, will provide an overview of the current state of special education for students with SLD.

We will then hear from four panelists who practice in schools focused on facilitating success for students with learning and disabilities. Next, discussant Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development in the School of Education at William and Mary, will offer summary remarks on practices and policy implications. The event will conclude with time for questions from the audience.

This panel will be recorded, and the recording will be made available to LDA Members. 

You can sign up HERE

Understood.org Unveils “Through My Eyes” Immersive Platform, Offering Glimpses Into the Daily Lives of Kids With ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia

Understood’s recent research found that over 40% of parents don’t know that learning and thinking differences are caused by biological variations in the brain. Instead, many mistakenly attribute these differences to how a child is raised, environmental factors, or excessive screen time. This stigma can keep kids from getting the support they need.

Through My Eyes is available at no cost on mobile, tablet, and desktop, including Chromebooks for classroom use. It doesn’t require any special technology. To access it, simply visit U.org/ThroughMyEyes.

Visit the platform HERE

Festival brings dyslexia community together

An organisation supporting people with dyslexia in Leeds is holding a major event at Pudsey Civic Hall in July.

The Yorkshire Dyslexia Festival — organised by Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia (YRD) — is set to bring the dyslexia community together with speakers and a range of exhibitions, at their event at Pudsey Civic Hall on the 5 July.

More details HERE

AI Handwriting Analysis May Catch Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Early

Summary: A new AI-driven tool developed by researchers could revolutionize how educators and clinicians screen for dyslexia and dysgraphia in children. By analyzing handwriting samples from K–5 students, the system detects behavioral cues, spelling errors, motor difficulties, and cognitive issues with remarkable precision.

Unlike traditional screening, which is time-intensive and often condition-specific, this method is faster, scalable, and could ease the burden on the nation’s limited speech and occupational therapy workforce. The research underscores the value of using artificial intelligence for early intervention, particularly in underserved communities.

Read the full article HERE

Why Students Forget—and What You Can Do About It

In a recent article published in the journal Neuron, neurobiologists Blake Richards and Paul Frankland challenge the predominant view of memory, which holds that forgetting is a process of loss—the gradual washing away of critical information despite our best efforts to retain it. According to Richards and Frankland, the goal of memory is not just to store information accurately but to “optimize decision-making” in chaotic, quickly changing environments. In this model of cognition, forgetting is an evolutionary strategy, a purposeful process that runs in the background of memory, evaluating and discarding information that doesn’t promote the survival of the species.

Read all about it HERE