LD Online News Headlines

A child psychologist, he argued that behavioral therapy had to come first in addressing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, with drugs like Ritalin as a supplement.

“Her undiagnosed neurodivergence has shaped my approach to work and parenting.”

Manhattan dad Tom Fiorella wanted a public high school that could challenge his child and accommodate learning disabilities. He spent countless hours scouring websites, attending open houses, and emailing parent coordinators in search of answers.

“It’s complex – it’s a lot of work,” said Fiorella, whose child began ninth grade this year. “It was hard to get solid information.”

Now, a group of parent advocates is pushing for more high schools to offer open houses specifically geared toward students with disabilities. They’ve sent a flurry of messages to school leaders to persuade them to roll out the information sessions more widely.

Defense Department schools are moving students with learning disabilities into general education classrooms for some subjects, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense Education Activity – Pacific confirmed Friday.

Illinois has also taken steps to change literacy instruction with the passage of a law that requires the Illinois State Board of Education to create a literacy plan by Jan. 31, 2024. In June, the state board released an initial draft of the plan, which says universal screening for literacy skills is essential and aspiring teachers need to be trained in the science of reading.

However, because the draft plan does not mandate districts to change how reading is taught in classrooms, literacy advocates worry that it is not enough to push schools to get rid of balanced literacy. 

Administrators should carefully evaluate the goals of intervention programs, what they hope to achieve, and how closely they are being followed.

This evidence-based reading methodology is gaining traction. Learn why.

How to wake up and get going when sleep inertia is strong: Cool the body, drink water after waking, do light stretches, reward yourself, and other techniques for getting out of bed in the morning.

“Even in the midst of Happy Days, at the height of my fame and success, I felt embarrassed, inadequate.”

“To help your daughter feel supported and less alone, actively listen, and show genuine interest and empathy by nodding, making eye contact, holding her hand, and providing verbal affirmations.”

A typewriting trend among teenagers could help kids become better writers, experts say.

Three Australians share their experiences in the hope of helping others with ADHD.

ADHD diagnosis and treatment guidelines for adults in the U.S. will be published in 2024, says APSARD President, Ann Childress, in an interview with ADDitude.

Michigan lawmakers recently introduced several bipartisan bills they say would improve educational outcomes for students with dyslexia. Some advocates say that in order for the bills to make a difference, the entire special education system in the state needs an overhaul.

How does MTSS relate to special education?

Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of students face challenges learning math due to disabilities like dyscalculia, a neurodevelopmental learning disorder caused by differences in parts of the brain that are involved with numbers and calculations. There are often obstacles to getting help.

Impulse control and curbing negative emotions are superpowers to be practiced.

Journaling can help you gain clarity, manage tasks better, and live a more organized life with ADHD. Here are some tips to get started.

Hiring with neurodiversity in mind isn’t just inclusive—it can give businesses the edge. So how can you promote it in your organisation?

The number of students in special education in the United States has doubled over the past four decades, with schools responsible for providing special services to a growing segment of their student bodies.

“The first rule of thumb for managing ADHD: Put down the stick.” And other strategies for cultivating self-compassion, especially when you’re raising a child with ADHD.

Who knew ADHD could be a third wheel?

Mental toughness. Self-confidence. Persistence. Resilience. The greatest athletes exhibit these characteristics, thanks in no small part to sports psychologists. Here, we learn how ADHD brains can benefit from adopting a Mamba Mentality that powers elite athletes.

Aged in his late 20s and struggling with depression and anxiety, Aaron Annese had reached breaking point when he finally found the courage to seek professional help.

Taking that step led to a diagnosis which has changed his life for the better, but managing his ADHD since has been incredibly challenging

English learners are one of the fastest growing student populations in the country with a variety of unique needs that educators must address for their academic success. Even more factors and nuances come into play when English learners are also identified as having a disability.

Informal school removal is an insidious, pervasive, and often illegal response to student misbehavior. Here, an attorney and parent advocate explains how to fight it using an IEP, functional behavioral assessment, and the law.

ADDitude recently asked educators how they resolve differences with parents and develop lasting partnerships. Here, we share their strategies for strengthening trust and improving collaboration with students’ caregivers.

Personal Perspective: Advice for easing the difficult transition to college.

Struggling to sort out your day, week or life and think your ADHD could be playing a part in that? You’re not alone.

When The Post asked readers to describe their home-schooling experiences, nearly 1,100 responded. Here’s what they told us.

We’ve come a long way in our understanding of ADHD, and as a mother and a former teacher, I am grateful for the enlightened future ahead.

As a new school year begins, parents and doctors find medication shortages are leading to declines in learning and self-esteem.

Special education professionals often gripe about the onslaught of paperwork they’re required to fill out, on top of the challenges of providing robust services to students with disabilities.

What if artificial intelligence could wipe out at least some of that burden?

The number of students in special education in the United States has doubled over the past four decades, creating a rising share of public school kids who need special education services.

Does ChatGPT stand up to all the hype? Find out how people with ADHD are using artificial intelligence to manage their day-to-day tasks.

Here, current and former college students with ADHD share the formal and informal accommodations that helped them lock down a degree.

Betty Hogg struggled with reading and math for years, only now understands her brain is wired differently

A panel of teachers shares the most effective ADHD accommodations and teaching strategies they use to help neurodivergent students find success in the classroom.

Understanding the science of reading is a necessary starting point

The link between executive function deficits and organizational skills.

Behind a veneer of accomplishment, underneath good grades and musical talents, Emily Chen was in disarray. She never knew what she was missing, perpetually cycling through potential mistakes in her mind in a desperate attempt not to slip up.

In 2021, research showed that for every 100 white children diagnosed with ADHD, there are 83 Black and 77 Hispanic children, and just 48 Asian children, with the diagnosis.

Anita passes the mic to our friends at the feminist documentary podcast “Bodies” for an exploration of ADHD and identity. Producer Hannah Harris Green talks about how getting an ADHD diagnosis helped her release the shame she’d been carrying since childhood.

A new study found that 82% of 17- to 29-year-olds with ADHD had gaming disorder and 59% had Internet gaming disorder, suggesting that the diagnostic criteria for IGD/GD could identify patients with attention deficit.

Some families turn to independent schools to get more intensive help for their children. But special schools or private tutors can be costly. Now, however, a handful of public schools are emerging that are dedicated to serving students with dyslexia and other language-based reading delays. 

Welcome to the complicated life of the neurodivergent — an umbrella term used to describe a variety of neurobiological conditions, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders and anxiety. While any child can have a bad episode, families with neurodivergent children tend to field more of them.

Telling them to try harder won’t help, but parents can do plenty of other things that will.

Children who struggle to pay attention tend to do less well at school than their classmates and go into lower paying jobs as adults, according to a new study. And children who find it difficult to manage their behavior at school are more likely to end up in jail. “Our study found broad support for the notion that people’s early experiences and skills really matter when they reach adulthood, despite everything that happens in between,” said Andrew Koepp, of the University of Texas at Austin, lead author of the study. It also means that helping children manage their attention and behavior will benefit them in later life, he added.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has long been associated with young boys, but research over the past four decades has revealed a hidden world of girls affected by the disorder. Almost 13% of men and boys have ADHD compared to 5.6% of women and girls. Girls are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in part because parents and teachers are less likely to refer girls for treatment or diagnosis. ADHD may present differently in boys and girls. For instance, boys often exhibit hyperactive and disruptive behaviors, while girls tend to show more internalized symptoms like daydreaming and social withdrawal, which often fly under the radar. 

Research shows that social skills groups don’t help boys with ADHD improve their friendships, but good male role models do. Fathers can teach their sons how to communicate and cultivate friendships in important ways. Here’s how to get started.

“It’s like someone tuned in the radio.”

This is how Emma Tregoning describes her life after starting medication for a condition she did not know she had until she was in her 40s.

In my practice, I spend quite a bit of time explaining to children what it means to have ADHD. During this process, parents often comment that the disorder’s symptoms sound like their feelings or actions, but they haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD. This is probable because if a child has ADHD, there is a strong likelihood that a parent also has ADHD. The exact cause of ADHD is still unclear, but there is a strong genetic component.

…Especially for neurodiverse students with LDs headed to college.

ADD / ADHD are typically discussed as a controversial diagnosis. Some people — including experts — feel that these conditions are over diagnosed, underdiagnosed, or simply don’t exist. ADD/ADHD have been used to attack parents, defend behavior challenges, and seemingly everything in between.

But what is the real story? Join us as today’s guest, Dr. Theresa Cerulli, explains the challenges in helping people with ADD / ADHD and the steps people can take to make sure they get the best care.

Generative AI could help people who struggle with focus. But becoming a Dungeons & Dragons firbolg cleric still requires a human touch.

Annie Artiga Garner feels a pit in her stomach every time a teacher approaches at school pickup for her twin 9-year-old boys, both in fourth grade and both diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

In September, New York City’s education department plans to open the city’s first traditional public school exclusively devoted to students with dyslexia and other reading issues.

Fed up parents, civil rights activists, newly awakened educators and lawmakers are crusading for “the science of reading.” Can they get results?

Fifteen year old Bodhi Bragonier struggled in school with his dyslexia, feeling like he was underperforming.

Finding out more about the learning disorder has taken the teenager to the world stage.

Google is making it easier for people with reading challenges, such as dyslexia, to be able to make out articles and text posts online. The tech giant has launched “reader mode” for Chrome, which takes a site’s primary content and puts it into the sidebar to reduce clutter and distractions. Users will also be able to change the text’s typeface, font size and spacing, as well as its color and background color, to find the combination that works best for them. 

What do the educators whose job it is to teach children how to read think about screening for reading delays in the early grades? We asked Doug Rich. He’s a 27-year veteran educator, former classroom teacher of grades 1 through 4, and a current math and reading interventionist at McKinley Elementary School in the San Francisco Unified School District, where he works with “Tier 2” students (those identified as at risk for delays). He’s also a father of two sons with dyslexia. Rich shared his professional journey in teaching literacy—how he came to learn about the disorder, his adoption of simple screeners to identify reading delays in students, and his structured and individualized approach to teaching students how to read.