Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.
Learning Disabilities (LD) Awareness Month
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Learning Disabilities Awareness Month (October) is a time where people pay special attention to children and adults with learning disabilities. During this month, Reading Rockets asks each of you to teach one person one new thing about learning disabilities. If you find an interesting article or resource here, consider passing it along to a friend, family member, or colleague.
Information on Learning Disabilities
Learning Disabilities: An Overview will tell you what a learning disability is, the different types, and the causes.
These briefs describe the specific types of learning disabilities:
- Dyslexia (reading problems)
- Dysgraphia (writing problems)
- Dyscalculia (math problems)
- Executive Function Difficulties (problems with organization)
- ADHD (trouble regulating attention)
- Who Can Diagnose LD and ADHD
The LD OnLine glossary defines the vocabulary of special education.
The LD OnLine timeline tells the history of learning disabilities.
Fun Activities
Send an e-card to a teacher who has gone above and beyond to help a child with LD. The beginning of the school year is a great time to write something specific you appreciate.
Read a children's book and share it with a child you know. Try one of these from the Reading Rockets or LD OnLine booklists:
Visit Sparktop, where kids with learning disabilities (or who learn differently) can create awesome stuff, play great games, connect with other kids and discover new ways to succeed in school and life.
Visit the LD Online kids art gallery. Encourage your child to draw or paint a picture and submit it here.
Inspirational Stories
Stories about success can inspire each of us to feel more confident in meeting the challenges of learning disabilities.
- The Teacher Who Changed Everything (video). Children's author Patricia Polacco recalls the day when her teacher discovered her dyslexia.
- My Son's Disability, and My Own Inability to See It. How the special education system helped her child.
- The World's Greatest Underachiever. Actor and author Henry Winkler talks about how dyslexia impacted his school years.
- Twice Exceptional (video). Dr. Dennis Higgins teaches kids who need some unique instruction. They are "twice exceptional" — both intellectually gifted and struggling with a learning disability.
- Why I Love Audio Books. Why a young person with dyslexia loves "reading" audio books.
- The Handicap that Had No Name. The story of how learning about the "label" of learning disabilities helped a college student to understand herself.
- The Journey Begins. Cary Westbrook succeeds in college and on the job despite his learning disabilities.
More Resources
To learn more about reading, writing, and learning disabilities in young children, please visit the Reading Rockets LD section.
For more in-depth information about learning disabilities, take a look at the comprehensive resources on our sister site LD OnLine.
Browse our LearningStore to discover quality educational products related to learning disabilities and ADHD, including books and videos by inspirational expert Rick Lavoie.
Find a professional, school, or product through the LD OnLine Yellow Pages nationwide directory.
History and Future of LD Awareness Month
October was originally designated in the United States as LD Month in 1985 through a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan. Learning Disabilities Association of Canada has celebrated an LD Month since 1987 and now provides a toolkit. organizations in the United States used the month to inform the public about learning disabilities through events and proclamations. In some states, LD Awareness Month is still celebrated. LD OnLine is considering a plan for public education through LD Month next year. Please write LD OnLine if you formally celebrated LD month this year — you may be featured next year. Contact LD OnLine and use "Positive side of LD" as your subject.
