LDExperience

Larry, at age eight, received a score of 78 on an IQ test. This score is in approximately the bottom 10 per cent of the population. He was placed in a class for “mentally retarded” children where he remained until age 14. I tested him at 34, when he was enrolled in a graduate program [...]

The purpose of LDExperience is to share. In this unique piece, Michael Janz, who is presently a Trustee Candidate for the public school board in Edmonton, Alberta, shares his observations from the campaign trail on the issue of special education. Mr. Janz is one of a unique group of younger Trustee candidates who has invigorated the normally sedate Trustee election process. [...]

In Canada, K-12 education is a provincial jurisdiction. The highest level of authority is the provincial Minister of Education. With the exception of New Brunswick which has abolished Boards, the highest local levels of authority are School Boards which consist of locally elected Trustees. A majority of Trustees determine the actions and positions of Boards. These [...]

Put up your hand if think that people with dyslexia have difficulties with letter and word reversals.  From where I am sitting, it looks to me like most of you have your hand raised.  I can’t really see you of course, but my experience tells me that the majority of people, even teachers, believe that [...]

As a community pediatrician with a special interest in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, I frequently am referred children because of behavior problems.   While some people may shudder at the thought of being locked in a small room for 2 hours with “whirling dervish” or “Tasmanian Devil”, I have generally enjoyed this type of referral.   I [...]

Listen to an audio version of this article. Some Simple Truths about Advocacy by Marty Hornstein Marty Hornstein is the Executive Director of the Calgary Chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta, a position he has held for several years. He has extensive experience helping people to advocate for their children or themselves. Drawing [...]

Stephen Murgatroyd has his PhD in psychology from The Open University of the United Kingdom. He is a respected author and consultant whose insightful pieces have been published in periodicals all over the world. In this article, he looks back almost four decades ago to when he taught 16 students in Wales. His insights about [...]

Michele Pentyliuk is a registered psychologist and respected expert in psycho-educational assessments. She is an active volunteer and advocate, and well respected speaker and teacher.  In this article, Michele  writes about the importance of considering many variables from different sources when conducting a psycho-educational assessment. The situations which Michele discusses are based on real people, [...]

Registered psychologist and respected expert in psycho-educational assessments, Michele Pentyliuk, writes about situations where assessments can cause harm. The situations which Michele discusses are based on real people, but the names and some circumstances have been changed to protect confidentiality. When a child with a suspected learning disability undergoes a psycho-educational assessment, the results are [...]

International expert in reading problems, Dr. Linda Siegel (University of British Columbia) asks why we wait for children to fail when screening and early intervention for reading difficulties have demonstrated their effectiveness. Why do we need early identification and intervention? Our prisons are filled with individuals who have learning disabilities that have never been properly [...]