LDA Newsbriefs | March/April 2013 | Learning Disabilities … · LDA NEWSBRIEFS 2 MARCH/APRIL 2013...

NEWSBRIEFSAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

LDA NEWSBRIEFS MARCH/APRIL 20131

Volume 48, No. 2 March/April 2013

Linda ModenbachConference General Chair

LDA opened its 50th Anniversary Conference with a Presentation of Colors by a Color Guard of Boy

Scouts from the Winston School of San Antonio, prior to the opening general session. The P rog ram Commi t t ee , t he Conference Committee and a special 50th Anniversary Committee worked together to weave LDA’s rich history together with a vision for the future. The opening general session featured a slideshow depicting LDA’s leaders and history making events. Wednesday’s keynote, the Anne Fleming Honorary Keynote Address captured the past, present and future of learning disabilities with panel members Dr. Doris Johnson, Dr. Nancy Mather and Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide. LDA went on to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a Texas style celebration. Following the opening general session attendees were welcomed into the Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall with a roving mariachi band. It wasn’t hard to tell that this would be a week of celebration and indeed it was. The Exhibit Hall, which included the LDA Bookstore, the Silent Auction and special surprises throughout

the week, was a favorite place for attendees. LDA is so appreciative of their exhibitors. I n a d d i t i o n t o con fe rence p re sen te r s , attendees, and exhibitors from the United States, the countries of Canada, Korea , Mex ico , Saud i Arabia, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom were a l so represented , giving the conference a true international flavor. A s p e c i a l e v e n t , c o n s i s t i n g o f t w o presentations, Brain Food: How Nutrition, Chemical Exposures and Genetics Interact, and Steps Schools Can Take to Protect and Nurture Children’s Development was held Wednesday night. This event was generously funded by the John Merck Fund. LDA President, Pat Latham, opened the Thursday general session with information about the LDA Award. The LDA presents an award to an individual, in recognition and appreciation of outstanding leadership, support, and dedication in the field of learning disabilities. The LDA Award is the highest honor given by LDA. This year

the recipient, Dr. Martha Denckla, was unable to attend the conference so the award was presented to her by Robin Church Co-Chair of LDA’s Professional Advisory Board and shown at the conference, via video. Dr. Denckla is regarded as a leading expert on learning disabilities. Thursday’s keynote address presented by Dr. Manju Banerjee, was entitled, Technologies of the Future: Where Assistive Meets Mainstream, a very informative session. Later in the day, attendees

were captivated by Saima Tiffany

Chauhan at the Adult Luncheon. She related how she overcame her learning disability as well as her homelife to become a licensed social worker and an advocate for the suffering addict. During the luncheon, the Harry Sylvester Award was presented to Christopher Lee. This award is given each year by LDA to an adult with learning disabilities who has overcome the disability to become a successful adult as well as an advocate for individuals with learning disabilities. The Draft LDA Bylaws recommended by the Board of Directors at their September 21, 2012, meeting, were approved at the annual Assembly of Delegates, on Thursday. The revised Bylaws are in compliance with Pennsylvania laws regarding nonprofit organizations. LDA is grateful to Myrna Soule and her committee for their diligence in proposing the revisions. Thursday evening attendees had the opportunity to view Dislecksia: The Movie followed by a panel discussion. Friday’s general session opened with the presentation of the Sam Kirk Educator

San Antonio Conference Captured 50th Anniversary Golden Memories

50th ANNIVERSARYcontinued on page 6

Winston School of San Antonio Color Guard

Pictures and memorabilia from the last 50 years.


Newsbriefs Published five times a year in January, March, May, September, and November by LDA, Learning Disabilities Association of America, ISSN 0739-909X. Subscription: $15.00 per year. Single copies of Newsbriefs may be obtained for $8.00 per copy. Change of address, new subscription orders, advertising, articles, and inquiries should be sent to: LDA, 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. Please include mailing label with all change of address notifications. LDA replaces ACLD and ACLD, Inc., and Learning Disabilities Association replaces Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. Articles, written in non-technical language, should be submitted to Newsbriefs by E-mail to [email protected]. Please insert the word Newsbriefs in the subject line along with the article title. Articles should not be longer than 750 words. All material received for Newsbriefs must contain complete contact information, including phone number. Material published in Newsbriefs may be reproduced without permission provided credit is given to Newsbriefs and LDA, 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. It is the policy of LDA to use the phrase children (adults, persons, etc.) with learning disabilities rather than learning disabled children, etc. LDA reserves the right to edit copy to comply with our policy. Newsbriefs advertising is carried as a service to the reader. LDA does not endorse any product, system, or service advertised in its newsletter. The viewpoints expressed by contributors and advertisers are their own. Newsbriefs reserves the right to reject any material or advertising. Shirley Hilts-Adams,

Editor

Ed Schlitt, far left, and Suzanne Fornaro, far right, represented LDA at the recent IDEA Partnership meeting in Alexandria, VA. Here they are talking with Michael Yudin, Assistant Secretary of the Office

of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and Melody Musgrove, Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). They met with the group representing more than 50 national organizations, technical assistance providers, and education agencies at the state and local level, which are supporting cross-stakeholder efforts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

LDA represented at recent IDEA Partnership Meeting

table of ContentsSan Antonio Conference Captured 50th Anniversary Golden Memories ............................................................. 1LDA represented at recent IDEA Partnership Meeting .... 2Message of Appreciation/Congratulations ....................... 2Annual Report to the LDA Assembly of Delegates ......... 3LDA Responds to Draft Accommodations Policies ......... 5Across the States .............................................................. 7Affiliate Support/Membership Committee ...................... 8LDA 2013 Awards ............................................................ 9Inspiring Scholarship Recipients Get Inspired at National Conference ..................................................................... 10Benefits of Membership ................................................. 11Healthy Children Project ................................................ 122014 Call for Proposals LDA 51st Annual International Conference ..................................................................... 12LDA Officers and Directors Elected .............................. 13Summary of Performance .............................................. 14Conference Calendar ...................................................... 14Classifieds ...................................................................... 14What Works Clearinghouse ........................................... 15Summer Camp Info ........................................................ 15LDA 2013 Conference Sponsors ................................... 16

A Message of Appreciation and Congratulations

It was our pleasure to serve as the Host State Af-filiate at the recent LDA Annual International Conference held in San Antonio. We were es-

pecially pleased to help LDA celebrate their 50th Anniversary in our state, beginning with the An-nual State Presidents' Reception. A special thanks to Dr. Charles Karulak and the Board of Direc-tors of the Winston School-San Antonio for their financial support of this reception and for provid-ing volunteers throughout the conference. We are also indebted to Our Lady of the Lake University for sharing their student volunteers with us. Again, Congratulations to LDA on their special anniversa-ry and best wishes for many more successful years working on behalf of individuals with learning dis-abilities.

The Learning Disabilities Association of Texas


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

LDA was founded by parents of children with learning disabilities.

LDA Structure LDA is a nonprofit membership corpo-ration, incorporated in Pennsylvania, with a National office in Pittsburgh, PA. LDA has members and state and local affiliates throughout the United States. LDA is gov-erned by a Board of Directors elected by the Assembly of Delegates of State Affiliates. The Board establishes working committees to assist the Board in planning and imple-menting projects. The Board, especially through its Affiliate Support/Membership Committee, works with affiliates and mem-bers. The Board also appoints members of a Professional Advisory Board (PAB), which advises on issues within the areas of exper-tise of the PAB members.

History For 50 years LDA had worked to pro-mote understanding of learning disabilities and to advocate for meeting the needs of children and adults with learning disabilities in society, including in education, training programs, the workplace.

Operations LDA has a public policy/legisla-tive consultant based in Washington, DC through whom LDA monitors legislative developments and takes positions on issues that impact individuals with learning dis-abilities. LDA produces informational posi-tion papers and webinars on issues of impor-tance to the learning disability community and maintains a website www.ldaamerica.org with a wide range of helpful informa-

tion. LDA produces four publications: the newsletter that is mailed to members five times per year, monthly legislative e-news-letter, weekly e-newsletter on topics of in-terest, and journal for professionals that is published three times per year.

Funded Activities Funding from grants supports LDA’s work in the areas of prevention and early intervention. For example, with funding from the John Merck Foundation, LDA’s Healthy Children Project addresses envi-ronmental causes of learning disabilities, such as toxins. A Juvenile Justice presenta-tion at the 2013 Conference is being funded by the Philip Harris Memorial Fund. LDA was awarded a grant of over $135,000 dur-ing 2012 to support LDA activities related to advocacy and education in general with a preference for advocacy and education re-lated to the prevention, diagnosis and treat-ment of conditions of pregnancy that may lead to learning disabilities, and for support of the annual conference, including support-ing the participation of presenters on these topics and scholarship support for teachers to attend the Conference. The grant was awarded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (NHCF).The donor is the Au-drey McMahon Trust. With funding from NHCF, LDA sponsored a panel at the 2013 Conference on Learning Disabilities - De-tection, Prevention, and Early Intervention.

Board of Directors The Board has the responsibility for the business and affairs of the Corporation and oversees the national office staff. The Board meets at least three times per year. During 2012 we worked on streamlining the Board meeting process to promote efficient use of time and focus on actions to be considered by the Board.

National Office Staff During 2012 the Board designated its long time staff member Mary-Clare Reyn-olds as Executive Director. LDA’s National

office staff, under the leadership of Mary-Clare, plays a key role in planning, coordi-nating, and implementing all that we do at LDA. In November, I had the opportunity to visit the National office in Pittsburgh. The office is a well-organized space that suits the Organization’s needs. I was impressed with the efficient and effective functioning of the dedicated staff. The staff members are: Mary-Clare Reynolds - Executive Director, Heather Nicklow - Accounting Manager, Jayme Vertullo - Membership Coordinator, Andrea Turkheimer - Director of Program Committee Support, and Maureen Swanson - Healthy Children Project Director.

Committees All committees were active and pro-ductive during the year. Here are examples. The Conference and Program Committees worked to bring about this outstanding con-ference in San Antonio. Advocacy and Adult Topics have been involved in process of de-veloping proposed papers and information sheets. The Bylaws and Policy Committee recently completed proposed Amended By-laws and the Amended Policy Manual. The Communications Committee worked on planning enhancements to LDA’s website and on future webinars. Public Policy was active on Washington matters, sign-ons, and testimony. Affiliate Support/Membership has worked on the implementation of a new social media grant from the LD Foundation. Greater detail is provided in the quarterly re-ports.

Annual Plan The Annual Plan sets forth the plan for the year and includes brief bios of all Board and PAB members. We have had as a prior-ity, during 2012, increased communication among the Board, Committees, PAB, and af-filiates.

Pat LathamLDA President

PRESIDENt'S MESSAGE

Annual Report to the LDA Assembly of Delegates

ANNUAL REPORtcontinued on page 4


Finances LDA is operating within budget and on target to meet expectations. The Board, Development Committee, and other com-mittees are working to promote increased visibility for LDA and to identify additional sources of revenue, while at the same time controlling expenses. Conference continues to be a major source of revenue. We are con-sidering other sources, as well.

Volunteers Handling Inquiries Effective July 1, 2012, volunteer Board and committee members commenced han-dling inquiries from members and the pub-lic, with each volunteer performing this function for one month. I volunteered for the first month. This provides an excellent opportunity for Board and committee mem-bers to be directly in touch with individu-als making inquiries and to coordinate with state and local affiliates.

Position Papers Board, Committee, and PAB members were involved in the preparation of the posi-tion paper What Are Learning Disabilities? that was approved by the Board at the Sep-

tember meeting. Members of the PAB have worked on draft position papers on Evalua-tion of Learning Disabilities and on Teacher Preparation. State Presidents and PAB mem-bers were asked to suggest topics for future webinars and position papers and were en-couraged to join in the writing process. Sev-eral members of Boards of affiliates have contributed their talents on National LDA writing projects.

Public Policy Activities LDA is very active in Washington, DC, with LDA-specific activities and through participation in numerous national coali-tions on advocacy, disabilities, education, health, juvenile issues, and mental health. LDA Policy Director Myrna Mandlawitz met privately with OSEP Director Melody Musgrove to discuss LDA's concerns about the changes to OSEP monitoring and state determination policies ("Results Driven Ac-countability") and also participated in two group meetings with the Director. LDA was part of a Consortium for Citizens with Dis-abilities (CCD) work group to develop a po-sition paper on computer adaptive testing. In addition, we are working with the Coalition on Teacher Quality to ensure only "highly qualified" teachers are in our nation's class-rooms.

LDA has also been active in the NDD (Non-Defense Discretionary) Summit, a cross-agency group formed to tackle the serious "fiscal cliff" issues and their effects on education, health, environment, employ-ment and other areas of concern to LDA members. LDA’s Policy Director submitted comments for a draft publication on RTI and early childhood and participated in a work-group examining the implications of vir-tual learning formats on students with dis-abilities. Among her ongoing activities on Capitol Hill, LDA’s Policy Director worked with Senator Murray (D-WA) on accessible instructional materials for individuals with print disabilities and met with staff to the co-chairmen of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus to express LDA's concerns about limiting the caucus to only one specific learning disability. Public policy activities are highlighted monthly through LDA's on-line newsletter, News in Brief.

Conference and Program Planning The Conference and Program Commit-tees worked hard to plan for the San An-tonio Conference. With funding provided by the Philip Harris Memorial Fund work-

ANNUAL REPORtcontinued from page 3

ANNUAL REPORtcontinued on page 8


Myrna Mandlawitz, Esq.LDA Policy Director

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense education

system have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to replace the 50 different sets of state standards in effect since the passage of No Child Left Behind. The standards are in the areas of English language arts/literacy and mathematics. As those states and entities begin to implementation the standards, two federally funded consortia of states are working to finalize assessments to measure students' learning based on the CCSS. The two consortia have taken different approaches to ensuring access to the assessments for students with disabilities and English learners. The Smarter Balanced consortium is building in access and accommodations through design of computer-adaptive tests, while the PARCC consortium is developing computer-based tests that will require external accommodations.

Smarter Balanced Computer-Adaptive Tests The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium ("Smarter Balanced") is developing computer-adaptive tests with accessibility as a core principle in the test design. A variety of accessibility tools and accommodations will be delivered automatically to students as they are needed. Smarter Balanced is scheduled to conduct pilot testing across the consortium's member states in late winter and early spring 2013.

PARCC Draft Accommodations Policies The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) consortium recently issued draft policies on accommodations for students with disabilities in reading access, computer use, and writing access. The Learning Disabilities Association and many other national organizations responded to the call for comments on these proposals. LDA expressed serious concerns about the unduly restrictive nature of the proposed accommodations – who would "qualify" to receive the accommodations and for what types of questions they would be allowed.

According to the draft policies, reading access accommodations would be allowed only on questions of reading comprehension. LDA believes this does not comport with the purpose of these assessments. Some students with learning disabilities in middle and high school may still not read fluently but may have comprehension at or above grade level. Not allowing these students to receive accommodations would give skewed test results about what these students have learned. The same logic would apply to the proposed math accommodations. Severe restrictions on the use of calculators would hamper students' ability to show their understanding of advanced math concepts and processes. The proposed policies as written appear to restrict the use of accommodations only to students with significant cognitive disabilities. In fact, PARCC has imposed "eligibility" requirements to receive these accommodations, which LDA believes is beyond the purview of the consortium. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504, the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team is charged with determining whether and what type of accommodations the student should receive in order to access the general education curriculum. LDA believes the use of phrases including "virtual non-reader" and "unable to calculate single digit numbers," neither of which appears in the IDEA or Section 504, unduly restricts which students would benefit from and will be able to avail themselves of appropriate accommodations. PARCC has now issued a draft policy for writing access accommodations. The draft contains similar language to the reading and math drafts, and LDA will respond with the same concerns. For more information, see the following:• CommonCoreStateStandards-http://

www.corestandards.org/• Smar t e r Ba lanced Assessmen t

Consortium – www.smarterbalanced.org

• Par tnership for Assessment ofReadiness for College and Careers (PARCC) – http://www.parcconline.org/

LDA Responds to Draft Accommodations Policies

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of the Year Award. The recipient of the award must be an educator who has made outstanding contributions to the education of persons with learning disabilities. This year’s educator of the year is Elizabeth Powell of Maryland. The annual awards banquet took on a different look as LDA continued its 50th Anniversary celebration, “Texas Style.” Western wear was the order of the day as attendees gathered around tables decorated with metal pails of rustic flowers, bandanas and sheriff badges. A champagne toast to LDA’s 50 years started the evening. The Image Dance Company of San Antonio provided the entertainment. Outgoing board members Ann Kornblet, Sharon Bloechle, and Charity Ziegler were recognized as were outgoing Professional Advisory Board members, Patricia Peterson and Kristin Strang. The evening concluded with the presentation of the LDA President’s Award which was given to Myrna Soule for her diligence in working on several projects during the year including the review and revision of the Bylaws and Policies. LDA held its annual Walk-a-Thon, Setting the Pace, on Saturday morning a long the Riverwalk and through

downtown. Later, Transition Table Talk and Finding Your Future took place as well as several workshops to round out the conference. The Program Committee under the leadership of Chairs, Bob Broudo and Nancie Payne developed a program that not only included keynote sessions but also a wealth of breakout sessions on topics including academic methods and strategies, adult issues, literacy, disability documentation, social skills, parenting, behavior management, assessment, public policy, substance abuse, technology, dyslexia and bullying. Conference General Chair was Linda Modenbach, assisted by Ann Kornblet, Assistant Chair. Jean Kueker, LaNelle Gallagher and JoEllen Barnard led the host state affiliate support. A big thank you goes out to all of the Texas volunteers who hosted sessions, answered questions, and helped us celebrate “Texas Style.” The 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee was led by Sandra Britt. Other committee members were Jean Kueker, LaNelle Gallagher, and Jeanne Asher. The planning and decorations made the celebration so very special. The LDA Office Staff headed by

Executive Director Mary-Clare Reynolds made the conference run smoothly. Other staff members on-site were Andrea Turkheimer and Jayme Vertullo. LDA is so thankful for their hard work and dedication. What a wonderful week of celebration, learning, and networking! Join us next year in Anaheim in 2014 as LDA continues its service of Advocating, Educating and Supporting.


50th ANNIVERSARYcontinued from page 1

Current and Past Presidents. Front: Sandra Britt, 1996-98; Connie Parr, 2008-2010. Back: Pat Latham, 2012-Present; Helene Gruber, 1988-1990; Lynne Cannon, 1986-1988; Suzanne Fornaro, 2004-2006; LaNelle Gallagher, 1990-1992; Pat Lillie, 2010-2012; and Ann Kornblet, 1994-1996.


ACROSS thE StAtES

Analisa SmithState Presidents’ RepresentativeLeslie RubinsteinAssistant State Presidents’ Representative

Affiliate Presidents and representatives from LDA member states met for lunches and meaningful exchanges

of information at the mid-February 50th Anniversary LDA Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Presentations by board members and the LDA Director of Public Policy, Myrna Mandlawitz added to our knowledge base. The election of a new State Presidents’ Representative, and Assistant, also took place. Analisa Smith As your new State Presidents’ Representative, I would like to introduce myself. Professionally, I am a lifelong learner and long-time educator. I taught general education and special education in the public sector for almost 2 decades. Currently, I work as an educational consultant, a special education homeschool consultant, and as a distance education professor. Personally, I am a wife and mother to two wonderful young men. The younger of my two children has significant learning disabilities and Asperger’s. I have been a member of LDA for about 15 years, active at the state level for approximately 7 years, and at the national level for about 5 years. LDA has provided me with a support network and advocacy expertise that I have been able to apply personally and professionally. For my younger son, LDA has helped him find a voice in advocating for himself. I look forward to working with each state affiliate and representing your interests. Contact: Dr. Analisa Smith, LDA of South Carolina, [email protected].

Leslie Rubinstein After getting my M.S. Ed. in special education, I was a special education teacher for several years in New York and then New Jersey prior to getting my New Jersey certification as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC). The LDTC is the person who does the Educational Evaluations on the Child Study Team (CST), which is also composed of a social worker

and a psychologist. In addition to doing evaluations, all members of the CST had case management responsibilities, consulting with teachers and parents; I have been in the special education field for about 35 years. I have always considered myself a child/family advocate, in addition to being an educator. However, the best education that I received started about 19 years ago when my son was about age two. I truly understand what it means to be the parent of a child/adult with a Learning Disability and ADHD and the struggles at school, home and life that can occur. Thus, my background has contributed into making me the passionate individual that I am today regarding helping individuals and families "navigate the maze" of LD and ADHD. Contact: Leslie Rubinstein, LDA of New Jersey, [email protected]. Most state affiliate representatives recently spent time at the LDA 50th Annual International Conference. This was a great conference and had many learning and networking opportunities for parents, teachers, and professionals. This conference marked 50 years of grassroots advocacy work for LDA. As your representatives, we both share a passion for promoting advocacy and support for individuals with learning disabilities. We want to continue to maintain communication between all the current state affiliates and LDA of America. Please free to contact either of us with any thoughts or ideas that you might have. Each affiliate does many significant things in their communities; activities that other communities can emulate.

hawaii LDA of Hawaii recently had a Keiki Fair as part of their affiliate’s School Readiness Project. The event was free for families with many fun activities and offered parents information about school readiness and the School Readiness Project.

Minnesota LDA Minnesota is leading the way in their individual communities through a partnership with elementary schools in the Twin Cities communities. LDA Minnesota's Learning Connections program provides intensive intervention instruction to students

in grades Kindergarten through 12 in reading, math, writing, and English language learning during the school day at urban schools and community sites in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Maine LDA of Maine is offering trainings for parents, students, and educators entitled I.E.P.'s 101 - Support for Parents at several high schools through the spring. These trainings are for students, parents, and educators and are being made available in-person and virtually. Training videos are being made of each training session to be checked out online. To learn more, e-mail [email protected].

South Carolina Suzanne Ringger of the South Carolina affiliate wrote an article on how to help your child with executive functioning. The article is featured on the LDASC webpage at www.ldasc.org.

Utah LDA Utah presented their 2013 Annual Conference on March 15 in Ogden. The conference theme was Reaching and Teaching Individuals with Learning Disabilities with Dr. Jerome (Jerry) Schultz as the conference keynoter. Please continue to share what is occurring in your state affiliate. Other affiliates and readers are interested in knowing what is happening in our LDA communities.

There is nofailure

except in no longer trying.

Elbert Hubbard


Ernie Florence, Chairman

LDA of Texas just hosted one of the finest LDA conferences in memory during February 2013. The Grand

Hyatt Regency was a comfortable and welcoming facility to host the event. San Antonio proved to be a beautiful setting for this memorable conference. The Affiliate Support/Membership Committee set up a membership table in the Exhibit Hall and it was manned daily by state presidents from throughout the country on a rotating basis. Thanks to a generous grant from the Learning Disabilities Foundation, new memberships were offered at a reduced rate during the conference. This resulted in 28 new memberships. Daily luncheon events were

planned for the state presidents throughout the week. They were addressed by Jayme Vertullo, the new membership coordinator from the LDA national office, and Myrna Mandlawitz on pressing legislative issues. Beth McGaw, from LDA of Texas and a national Board of Directors member,

p r e s e n t e d t h e new marketing s t r a t e g y a n d plan to the state p r e s i d e n t s . F i n a l l y , o u r n a t i o n a l p res iden t , Pa t L a t h a m , a n d former national president, Connie Parr, had a question and answer session with the state presidents. The presidents were able to interact on a social level when the committee hosted a presidents’ night out at the Rio Rio Restaurant on the famous Riverwalk. It proved to be a very fun and information filled week for the state presidents. On Saturday morning, February 16, the committee hosted Setting the Pace, the annual LDA Walk-a-Thon. Early on Saturday morning over thirty LDA members gathered in the lobby of the hotel and registered for the Walk-a-Thon. It was a beautiful morning for the walk along the Riverwalk, through downtown, and past the famous Alamo. Each participant received a special Walk-a-Thon t-shirt designed and created especially for the LDA. Over $4,000 was raised by the participants for LDA of America. A great time was had by all. Ou ts tand ing vo lun tee r s f rom throughout the United States were honored with a special display in the Exhibit Hall during the conference. Each volunteer received a beautiful award certificate thanking them for their many contributions to LDA. The honorees included Sydney Malick from Pennsylvania, Montie Stone from Georgia, Dr. Marilyn Gonyo from New Jersey, Carol Sunderman from South Carolina, John and Patricia Gaherty from Iowa, and Janet Lerner from Illinois. Also honored was Bob Abbott from Illinois who was a pioneer and devoted volunteer for LDA before his death in 2010. This was such an exciting and event filled conference in San Antonio! Next year the conference will be held in Anaheim, California at a hotel on Disney property. Mark it on your calendar and join us for what definitely will be another memorable conference.

Affiliate Support/Membership Committee

shops were planned on Substance Abuse and Learning Disabilities and the Juvenile Justice System and Learning Disabilities. With funding provided by the New Hamp-shire Charitable Foundation, we developed a workshop on prevention and treatment of conditions of pregnancy that may lead to learning disabilities and also are offered scholarships to facilitate teacher attendance at the Conference. There was a Wednesday evening session, free to the public, funded by the John Merck Fund (Healthy Children Project). The result of all of this work is an outstanding conference with a range of pre-sentations and special activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of LDA.

Proposed Amended Bylaws and Amended Policy Manual The Bylaws Committee completed its review of Bylaws and Policies and recom-mended to the Board amended Bylaws and an amended Policy Manual. LDA’s attor-ney reviewed the amended Bylaws, which are based upon a sample provided by him at the outset. The Board of Directors at its Sep-tember meeting recommended the proposed amended Bylaws and approved the amended, streamlined Policy Manual.

Collaboration with Other Disability Orga-nizations LDA has collaborated with Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and the National Cen-ter on Learning Disabilities (NCLD) on a number of matters. LDA was offered the op-portunity to do a webinar through Achieva, a disability organization based in Pittsburgh. In the webinar, which was produced in No-vember, we focused on describing learning disabilities and LDA’s role.

Collaboration within LDA During this year, the Board reached out to increase communication and collaborative efforts with Committees, the PAB, and Presi-dents of State Affiliates. In December, State Presidents had a conference call with Ernie Florence, Co-Chair of the Affiliate Support/Membership Committee and me to share ideas on a number of topics. We discussed efforts currently underway to increase LDA’s visibility and influence. LDA’s Committees were very active during the year and col-laborated well with each other and with PAB members.

ANNUAL REPORtcontinued from page 4


Text

hIStORY OF LDAcontinued from page 8

One of the highlights of each LDA Conference is the presentation of awards to our members who have

accomplished outstanding feats in fulfilling the mission of the Learning Disabilities Association of America on behalf of all individuals with learning disabilities. The awards presented in San Antonio at the 2013 50th Anniversary Conference continued this practice. The following individuals were the recipients of this year’s awards.

LDA President’s Award The President's Award was presented to Myrna Soule for her many years of outstanding service on the Board of Directors, the numerous committees of LDA on which she has served in addition to having served as Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee, and in particular, for her work as Chair of the Bylaws and Policy Committee during 2012. Under Myrna's leadership, the Bylaws and Policy Committee completed updated and amended Bylaws and updated and streamlined Policies, which will assist the organization in functioning with increased efficiency and effectiveness. Her dedication and devotion over the years serving on the LDA of America Board of Directors as well as on the LDA of Oregon Board, and her ability to ask penetrating questions which elicited needed information for good decision making, are hallmarks of her service to LDA.

harrison Sylvester Award This year the Harrison Sylvester Award was presented to Dr. Christopher Lee for his commitment to those living with learning disabilities. Given in the name of Harry Sylvester, past president of LDA and an adult with learning disabilities, this award honors and recognizes an adult with learning disabilities who has shown strong dedication and commitment in advancing the concerns of adults with learning disabilities. As adult with a learning disability, Dr. Lee is a nationally renowned advocate, author, speaker and leader in the field of learning disabilities and adaptive

technology. He has made significant contributions to adults with learning disabilities by advancing their needs and concerns. Dr. Lee has served as Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Georgia and was President to both that organization and the Atlanta chapter of the Learning Disabilities Adults of Georgia. He has given countless hours to LDA of America and LDA of Georgia as well as to individuals – both children and adults. He is a kind, thoughtful person and most definitely emulates the characteristics and values embodied in this award.

Sam Kirk Educator of the Year Elizabeth (Lisa) Powell is the recipient of the Sam Kirk Educator of the

Year Award. Lisa was nominated by the Learning D i s a b i l i t i e s Association of Maryland who stated that she is a wonderful, hard-working special education teacher, who is an asset to the Learning

Disabilities Association of Maryland, as well as to her community. Lisa is a Special Education Teacher and has been in this position for over 20 years. She is presently at Greenview Knolls Elementary School where she is the Special Education Department Chairperson. She is a mentor and advisor who believes that all children can learn and thrive in a learning environment that is stimulating, comforting and appropriate to their unique talents and abilities. Lisa has developed and presented ongoing staff development and assistance to teachers with special needs students, not only at her school but for several new special education teachers in neighboring schools. L i s a is an active member of LDA of Maryland but also with Citizens Advisory Committee for Special Education for St. Mary’s County, Maryland. She has helped plan an

Executive Functioning Workshop, given presentations on Universal Design for Learning, Accommodations/ Modifications and Executive Functioning as well as others. She has written articles for the quarterly newsletter one of them was on Time Management. Lisa’s principal said of her that she has unusually fine personal qualities, including efficiency, reliability, loyalty, integrity, attitude and perhaps most important of all, Professionalism. She is energetic, intelligent, articulate, well-informed, conscientious and an imaginative teacher. We congratulate you and know that Sam Kirk would be pleased that you received this award bearing his name.

LDA Award This year’s recipient of the LDA award is Dr. Martha Denckla, a research scientist

and Director of the Deve lopmenta l C o g n i t i v e Neurology Clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Denckla serves on the faculty as a professor of neurology,

pediatrics, and psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She has been the editor of numerous professional journals, sits on many advisory boards, and is one of the most respected and well published scholars in the field of learning disabilities. The overarching goal of Dr. Denckla’s research has been to understand the underlying brain mechanisms involved in learning disabilities. In addition, Dr. Denckla has long advocated for a better understanding of the social, non-verbal challenges facing individuals with learning disabilities. It is very fitting that Dr. Denckla be this year’s recipient as LDA celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

LDA 2013 AWARDS

Martha Denckla

Lisa Powell


Ann KornbletLDA Assistant General Conference Chair

For this year’s Annual Conference LDA was able to make twenty scholarships available because

of the generous support of The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The scholarships needed to be awarded to active teachers in grades K-12. There was a tremendous response from teachers in the United States as well as from overseas. The LDA Scholarship Application readers found the decisions difficult because of the high caliber and dedication of the teachers applying to attend the conference. LDA is proud to announce that teachers from Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, M i s s o u r i , M o n t a n a , N e w Yo r k , Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin were awarded the scholarships. The teachers attended an orientation which gave them an overview of the week and allowed them to meet one

another. They had a full schedule and the evaluations turned in by the group listed their impressions and thoughts of the week. A number of the teachers were from fairly isolated schools d i s t r i c t s a n d e v e n though the internet is always available the ability to talk with other teachers who share similar concerns was invaluable to this group. One teacher wrote… the highlight for me was meeting and networking with the other winners and d i scuss ing the i n f o r m a t i o n a n d teaching strategies learned in sessions. Another said, Dr. Schultz was an amazing presenter and the information was directly applicable to my current position. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity. Other comments – I met wonderful people and enjoyed networking with other

professionals. I met my goal of acquiring knowledge and information to take back home to our Montessori teachers. One

of her favorite speakers …was extremely knowledgeable and the material was relevant for several students at my school. Another participant said the session

Inspiring Scholarship Recipients Get Inspired at National Conference

2013 Scholarship Winners

Davis Dyslexia Correction®

To find a Licensed Davis Facilitator:Go to www.davismethod.org

or call 1-888-999-3324For information about professional training:

Check www.davistraining.orgor call 1-888-805-7216

Davis is a counseling-based approachwhich uses the natural creative strengthsof dyslexic learners to address problemswith reading, math, and attention focus.

For more information or to orderDavis books or kits, go to:

dyslexia,the giftwww.dyslexia.com

SChOLARShIP RECIPIENtScontinued on page 16


Benefits of MembershipThe Learning Disabilities Association of America believes that every person with learn-ing disabilities can succeed in school, at work, in relationships, and within the community -- when provided the right supports and the right opportunities.

Join LDA in creating those opportunities!• LDA is the voice for people with learning

disabilities of all ages and their families. • LDA is the leading advocate for laws and

policies that create opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

• LDA is a leader in promoting research into the nature and causes of learning disabilities.

What LDA Offers:• At the national, state and local levels, LDA

provides cutting edge information on learn-ing disabilities, practical solutions, and a comprehensive network of resources.

• LDA provides support to people with learn-ing disabilities, their families, teachers and other professionals.

Benefits of Membership:• Support through local and state groups and

workshops • Advocacy through assistance, training and

information • Information via a toll-free call-in line, 888-

300-6710• Resources on LDA website for parents,

teachers, professionals, adults, and those new to learning disabilities

• Information on learning disabilities and topics of interest, including advocacy efforts, sent to all state and local affiliates via a monthly e-newsletter, Stateline E-News

• News briefings of the week’s top stories on learning disabilities and related topics via thE LD SOURCE, a free, opt-in e-mail resource

• News from Washington - monthly reports on legislative issues via News-in-Brief

• Newsbriefs - LDA’s comprehensive national newsletter published five times a year; archived copies are available on the web site back to 2003

• Comprehensive Web site featuring exclu-sive Members area with access to leading experts and online training

• Discounts on registration for state and national LDA conferences and workshops

• Discount subscription to Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, a peer-reviewed journal published three times a year

• Access to Professional Liability, General Liability and Abuse and Molestation defense coverage, at a reduced rate, for members in private practice

Membership:As an advocacy organization, membership is what keeps LDA thriving and allows our voices and those of the children and families whom we serve to be heard. The support we receive through membership in LDA enables us to:• Unite individuals, families and professionals

who have a shared commitment to individu-als with learning disabilities.

• Raise awareness about learning disabilities among policymakers and the public at large.

• Advocate to preserve, enhance and expand access to services for children and adults with learning disabilities.

• Represent the needs and interests of chil-

dren and adults with learning disabilities to regulatory and policy-making entities.

• Create and distribute policy and position statements and public testimony on various aspects of policies that impact the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities.

• Develop Action Alerts on crucial National legislation.

• Collaborate with professional and advocacy organizations on public policy on a national level.

08.09.2012

LDA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PLEASE COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS OF THE APPLICATION SO THAT WE CAN PROCESS YOUR MEMBERSHIP– THANK YOU!

___________________________________________________ Member Name ___________________________________________________ Street Address ___________________________________________________ City State Zip ___________________________________________________ Telephone Number ___________________________________________________ Email Address

Membership dues as shown by member’s state $___________

Tax deductible donation to LDA $___________

Member’s only discount price ($45/year) for 1-year subscription to the LDA Journal “Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal” $___________

TOTAL enclosed $___________

I want to help but don’t need a membership at this time. Please accept my gift of: ____ $100 ____$75 ____ $50 ____ $ 35 ____$25 ____ Other

Annual membership dues entitling you to

membership in LDA at the National, State

and Local level: $25 Student Membership

*Paper application accepted only and must include verification of age.

$30 Alabama Alaska Delaware D.C. Florida Idaho Louisiana Massachusetts Mississippi Montana Nevada

New Mexico North Dakota Puerto Rico Rhode Island Tennessee Vermont West Virginia Wyoming $35 Kentucky

Maine Ohio Texas Virginia

$40 Arizona

Connecticut Georgia Iowa Indiana Kansas Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey

$45 Arkansas

California Foreign Member Minnesota Missouri Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Utah Wisconsin

$50 Colorado

Hawaii Illinois Maryland Michigan New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania Washington

Mail completed form to: LDA

4156 Library Rd. Suite 3 Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Method of Payment

Check #: OR

C. Card #: CVC Code: ___________ Expiration Date: Signature:

Note: LDA does not accept Purchase Orders for Membership Dues or subscription to the LDA Journal “Learning Disabilities: A

Multidisciplinary Journal”

LDA NEWSBRIEFS 12 MARCH/APRIL 2013

hEALthY ChILDREN PROJECt

Maureen SwansonHealthy Children Project Director

A lot is happening with LDA’s Healthy Children Project this s p r i n g : N e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s

to advocate for the reintroduced and reinvigorated Safe Chemicals Act, the 2013 HCP mini-grant awards, and resources to learn more about the excellent LDA conference presentation on nutrition, genetics and chemical exposures. Please contact HCP Director Maureen Swanson at [email protected] to find out more about this growing LDA initiative.

S a f e C h e m i c a l s A c t a n d L D A Advocacy: This spring, Sen. Lautenberg is re-introducing his Safe Chemicals Act (SCA), which would revise the broken, outdated Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The SCA would require chemicals to be assessed for health effects as a condition of entering or remaining on the market and in our products. The Act would set a safety standard to protect the developing fetus and young children, who are at greater risk from even tiny doses of toxic chemicals. The Act

also would provide a system to identify safe chemicals and give them a “green light” while removing the most toxic chemicals from the market. LDA members in more than a dozen states are helping to educate their legislators and the public about toxic chemicals linked to problems with brain development and learning. LDA state and local affiliates are meeting with Congressional offices, writing opinion articles and letters, sending e-mails and making phone calls to urge support for the Safe Chemicals Act. Every voice in every state matters, so please add yours to this effort!

healthy Children Project Spring 2013 Mini-Grants: LDA awarded five mini-grants this spring to assist state and local affiliates with their advocacy efforts for safer chemicals. This year, grants went to LDA affiliates in New Hampshire, Arkansas, Missouri (St. Louis), Tennessee and Michigan. The grants, provided through the HCP national office with funding from the John Merck Fund, are intended to help LDA affiliates participate in state and national coalitions promoting safer

chemical laws. LDA affiliates in New York, Maine, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina and Oregon, among others, are also engaged in HCP initiatives. Pending renewal of LDA’s grant from the John Merck Fund, another round of mini-grants will be awarded in 2014. LDA is grateful for the Merck Fund’s ongoing support of its national and state leadership role in reducing environmental contributors to learning and developmental disabilities.

“Brain Food” presentation at LDA Conference, February 2013: The room was packed for LDA’s specia l event a t the San Antonio conference, Brain Food: How Nutrition, Chemical Exposures and Genetics Interact, and Steps Schools Can Take to Protect and Nurture Children’s Development. Renee Dufault, founder and executive director of the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute and a special education teacher,

Spring Updates

Learning Disabilities Association of America is seeking submissions for the 2014 Conference to be held

in Anaheim, CA, February 19-22, 2014. Anyone wishing to present a paper, conduct a workshop, provide an informational session, or make a formal presentation is invited to submit a proposal. LDA values sessions that present current and best practices, including basic information about the nature of learning disabilities as well as innovative approaches to advocacy, assessment, intervention, and instruction. Also sought are sessions that present new ways to ensure successful

transition, utilize assistive technology, access the general curriculum, provide a continuum of services, and foster productive adulthood. Of particular interest are hands-on practical techniques for Table Talk and reports of research for Poster Sessions. A special focus will be placed on research best practices and skill building of both children and adults in culturally diverse populations. We are pleased to introduce a new strand for the 2014 LDA Conference entitled, Correctional Education and Justice System. It is expected that basic, intermediate, and advanced presentations will be offered

to provide both new and experienced conference attendees current information and opinion on both continuing and evolving topics of interest and concern. Please note that presenters are limited to one major presentation and that sessions may not promote commercial products and/or services. Deadline for submissions is May 15, 2013. Individuals interested in having a proposal considered for the Anaheim Conference should go to www.LDAAmerica.org and follow the steps for completing and submitting online.

2014 Call for ProposalsLDA 51st Annual International Conference

SPRING UPDAtEScontinued on page 13


presented new findings on high fructose corn syrup and how it can hamper a gene that works to rid the body of toxic metals such as mercury. The high fructose corn syrup itself has been found, in some cases, to contain mercury. Dr. Vangie Aguilera, senior executive director of special education for the San Antonio Independent School Dis t r ic t (SAISD), provided responsive comments. She outlined some of the steps her school district is taking to adopt a more holistic approach to children’s health and learning, including innovative tracking and improvement of breakfast and exercise habits. Dr. Aguilera noted that specialists who make in-home visits to special needs students in the SAISD might be well placed to provide information on food ingredients and nutrition. Ms. Dufault’s presentation is available on the LDA and HCP websites, www.ldaamerica.org and healthychildrenproject.org. For further information also see: http://foodingredient.info and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s “Smart Guide to Food Dyes” at: http://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_105204.pdf.

SPRING UPDAtEScontinued from page 12

Suzanne FornaroNominating Committee

The following officers were elected by the Assembly of Delegates during their Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 14, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

OfficersFirst Vice President ~ B.J. Wiemer, MissouriSecond Vice President ~ Edward Schlitt, MichiganSecretary ~ Ernie Florence, IllinoisTreasurer ~ Nancie Payne, Washington

All officers, except the LDA President, are elected for a one-year term. The term of the President is two years. Pat Latham, LDA President, was elected in 2012 and will serve until February 2014. Immediate Past President Pat Lillie, North Carolina, remains on the Executive Committee until February 2014. Beth McGaw, Texas, was elected by the Board of Directors to be their representative on the Executive Committee for the next year. Directors The following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors for three-year terms: Regina Carey, Michigan; Candace Joles, Indiana; Jonathan Jones, North Carolina; and Nanette Schweitzer, Maryland. Analisa Smith, South Carolina, was elected by the State Presidents to serve as their representative on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee worked diligently to select candidates who bring a variety of skills and experience to the Board.

LDA Officers and Directors Elected


Rates for classified ads are as follows: $25.00 for 12 words or less and $1.00 for each additional word. Orders should be sent to LDA, 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. Payment must accompany the advertisement. Ads will be run in the issue following their receipt.

LIMIT 40 WORDS Closing dates for each issue are:January/February: December 15March/April: February 15May/June: April 15September/October: August 15November/December: October 15

CLASS IF IEDS

LDA of Utah State ConferenceMarch 15, 2013Weber State University3848 harrison Blvd.Ogden, Utah www.ldau.org801-553-9156

Pacific Rim International Forum on Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesApril 27-28, 2013hilton hawaiian Villagehonolulu, [email protected]: www.pacrim.hawaii.edu

LDA 51th Annual ConferenceFebruary 19-22, 2014Disneyland hotelAnaheim, [email protected]

CONFERENCECALENDAR

Nobody who ever

gave his best regretted it.

As students exit high school due to graduation with a regular diploma or due to exceeding the age eligibility, a local education agency

...shall provide the child with a summary of the child’s academic achievement and functional performance, which shall include recommendations on how to assist the child in meeting the child’s postsecondary goals... according to §Sec. 300.305(e)(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004.

The Summary of Performance (SOP) must be completed during the final year of a student’s high school education. The SOP should contain Background Information,Student’s Postsecondary Goals, Summary of Performance, Recommendations to assist the student in meeting postsecondary goals, and Student Input.

A template for the SOP can be downloaded from the LDA website, www.ldaamerica.org. It was developed by the National Transition

Documenta t ion Summit © 2005 inc lud ing representation from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), and Division on Learning Disabilities (DLD), the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD), the Learning Disability Association (LDA) and the National Center on Learning Disabilities (NCLD).

Summary of Performance


It Is the polIcy of lDA to use the phrAse chIlDren (ADults, persons, etc.) wIth leArnIng DIsAbIlItIes rAther thAn leArnIng DIsAbleD chIlDren, etc. lDA reserves the rIght to eDIt copy other thAn copyrIghteD mAterIAl to comply wIth thIs polIcy. clAssIfIeD ADs wIll be chAngeD At no ADDItIonAl cost.

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Education’s

Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to provide educators, policymakers, researchers, and the public with a central and trusted source of scientific evidence for what works in education.

W W C R e v i e w s R e s e a r c h o n enVisionMAth After reviewing the research, the WWC has determined that enVisionMath has potentially posit ive effects on mathematics achievement for elementary school students, based on one study that included 1,156 elementary school students in grades 2-4 in eight locations across the United States. enVisionMATH is a core curriculum for students in grades K-6 that aims to help students develop an understanding of math concepts through problem-based instruction, small-group interaction, and visual learning with a focus on reasoning and modeling. Retrieved from www.ed.gov 1/17/13.

talent Development Middle Grades Program and Its Effects on Literacy

Af te r rev iewing the research , the WWC has found that the Talent Development Middle Grades Program has potentially posit ive effects on comprehension based on one study of adolescent readers from grades 7 and 8 in 29 urban middle schools in the Northeast. The Talent Development Middle Grades Program is a comprehensive reform model for large urban middle schools that aims to improve student achievement by transforming the structure and curriculum. Retrieved from www.ed.gov 1/17/13.

WWC Report on Social Skills training for Children with Disabilities A new report from the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the research on the effectiveness of social skills training for children with disabilities. Social skills training is a collection of practices that use a behavioral approach for teaching preschool children age-appropriate social skills and competencies, including communication, problem solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relations. After reviewing the research evidence, the WWC found that social skills training

has positive effects on social-emotional development and behavior and no discernible effects on cognition for children with disabilities in early education settings. Read the full report now at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=578. Retrieved from www.ed.gov 2/7/13.

What Works Clearinghouse

SummerCamp Info

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Dis-abilities (NICHCY) recently

published a listing of summer camp opportunities. Included in the listing are specialized camps for children with disabilities as well as general information on what to look for when seeking a camp for your child. Visit http://nichcy.org/publications/camps.

LDALearning Disabilities Association

4156 Library RoadPittsburgh, PA 15234

(412) 341-1515

Email: [email protected]: www.ldaamerica.org

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

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1260Pittsburgh, PA


2014 LDA International Conference_____________________Anaheim, CA

February 19-22

Learning Disabilities and the Juvenile Justice System really met my needs with the police talking about ways to reduce the over-representation of special needs students in the judicial system and I was very pleased with the keynote regarding diversity. He also commented, Meeting new people and discussing issues with everyone was a highlight and it was wonderful to get to know people better from my state as well. The overall feeling of sharing ideas and supporting all students was noticed by the scholarship winners. In speaking with them on Friday evening as their conference was drawing to a close it was heartening to hear how inspired the young teachers were and how re-energized the more experienced professionals were feeling. Such an important part of LDA’s mission is supporting professionals that work with children and adults with learning disabilities – it was through this special grant that LDA helped these teachers to inspire one another. The Scholarship Recipients were: Carolyn Augusto, Maine; Stephanie Bay, Missouri; Betty Bollard, Iowa; Megan Brown, Texas; Sydney Crosby, Texas; Meryl Eisenberg, Florida; Nancy English, Alabama; Patricia Getz, New York; Dawn Glunz, Illinois; Harold House, Indiana; Gorinda Houghes-Rendon,Texas; Amy Lamparelli, Montana; Jeff LaPlant, Wisconsin; Megan Majsterski, Minnesota; Bridget McMillen, Alaska; Bethany Pancoast, Pennsylvania; Holly Salazar, Texas; Gail Schuler, Alaska; Justine Smith, Connecticut; Lisa Sorenson, California.

SChOLARShIP RECIPIENtScontinued from page 10

LDA 2013 Conference SponsorsBrehm Preparatory School, Carbondale, IL Exhibit Hall Coffee Break, Friday

Learning Disabilities Foundation of America, Pittsburgh, PA 50th Celebration Dinner, Friday

Landmark School, Prides Crossing, MA Opening Keynote Address, Wednesday Gow School, South Wales, NY Exhibit Hall Refreshment Break, Thursday

Beacon College, Leesburg, FL Exhibit Hall Refreshment Break, Wednesday

Sandra Britt, Minter City, MS 50th Celebration Dinner, Friday

Doris Johnson, Evanston, IL 50th Celebration Dinner, Friday

GED® testing Service, Washington, DC Badge Holders

Sundberg Learning Systems, Lake Bluff, IL Exhibit Hall Coffee Break

Winston School-San Antonio, San Antonio, tX Tuesday evening reception

LDA of Pennsylvania, harrisburg, PA Decorations, Membership Booth

This conference was greatly enhanced with your generosity and support!

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