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Learning Disabilities Resources

What Are Sources of Information and Support?
Several publications, organizations, and support groups exist to help individuals, teachers, and families to understand and cope with learning disabilities. The following resources provide a good starting point for gaining insight, practical solutions, and support. Further information can be found at libraries and bookstores. 

Books
Books for Children and Teens With Learning Disabilities 

  • Fisher, G., and Cummings, R. The Survival Guide for Kids with LD. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, 1990. (Also available on cassette) 
  • Gehret, J. Learning Disabilities and the Don't-Give-Up-Kid. Fairport, NY: Verbal Images Press, 1990. 
  • Janover, C. Josh: A Boy with Dyslexia. Burlington, VT: Waterfront Books, 1988. 
  • Landau, E. Dyslexia. New York: Franklin Watts Publishing Co., 1991. 
  • Marek, M. Different, Not Dumb. New York: Franklin Watts Publishing Co., 1985. 
  • Levine, M. Keeping A Head in School: A Student's Book about Learning Abilities and Learning Disorders. Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Services, Inc., 1990. 

Books for Adults With Learning Disabilities 

  • Adelman, P., and Wren, C. Learning Disabilities, Graduate School, and Careers: The Student's Perspective. Lake Forest, IL: Learning Opportunities Program, Barat College, 1990. 
  • Cordoni, B. Living with a Learning Disability. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1987. 
  • Kravets, M., and Wax, I. The K&W Guide: Colleges and the Learning Disabled Student. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1992. 
  • Magnum, C., and Strichard, S., eds. Colleges with Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities. Princeton, NJ:Petersons Guides, 1992.

Books for Parents

  •  Greene, L. Learning Disabilities and Your Child: A Survival Handbook. New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1987. 
  • Novick, B., and Arnold, M. Why Is My Child Having Trouble in School? New York: Villard Books, 1991. 
  • Silver, L. The Misunderstood Child: A Guide for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities: 2d ed. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1992. 
  • Silver, L. Dr. Silver's Advice to Parents on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 1993. 
  • Vail, P. Smart Kids with School Problems. New York: EP Dutton, 1987. 
  • Weiss, E. Mothers Talk About Learning Disabilities. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1989.
Books and Pamphlets for Teachers and Specialists 
  • Adelman, P., and Wren, C. Learning Disabilities, Graduate School, and Careers. Lake Forest, Learning Opportunities Program, Barat College, 1990. 
  • Silver, L. ADHD: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Booklet for Teachers. Summit, NJ: CIBA-GEIGY, 1989. 
  • Smith, S. Success Against the Odds: Strategies and Insights from the Learning Disabled. Los Angeles: Jeremy Tarcher, Inc., 1991. 
  • Wender, P. The Hyperactive Child, Adolescent, and Adult. Attention Disorder through the Lifespan. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987. 
Related Pamphlets Available From NIH 
  • Facts About Dyslexia 
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 
  • Building 31, Room 2A32 
  • 9000 Rockville Pike 
  • Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5133 
Developmental Speech and Language Disorders--Hope through Research 
  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders 
  • P.O. Box 37777 
  • Washington, DC 20013 (800) 241-1044 

Support Groups and Organizations 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 
  • 10801 Rockville Pike 
  • Rockville, MD 20852 (800) 638-8255 
  • Provides information on speech and language disorders, as well as referrals to certified speech-language therapists. 
Attention Deficit Information Network 
  • 475 Hillside Avenue 
  • Needham, MA 02194 (617) 455-9895 
  • Provides up-to-date information on current research, regional meetings. Offers aid in finding solutions to practical problems faced by adults and children with an attention disorder. 
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation 
  • 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 460 
  • Bethesda, MD 20814 (800) 366-2223 
  • Provides information and support for children treated for cancer who later experience learning disabilities. 
Center for Mental Health Services 
  • Office of Consumer, Family, and Public Information 
  • 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15-81 
  • Rockville, MD 20857 (301) 443-2792 
  • This new national center, a component of the U.S. Public Health Service, provides a range of information on mental health, treatment, and support services. 
Children with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD) 
  • 499 NW 70th Avenue, Suite 308 
  • Plantation, FL 33317 (305) 587-3700 
  • Runs support groups and publishes two newsletters concerning attention disorders for parents and professionals. 
Council for Exceptional Children 
  • 11920 Association Drive
  • Reston, VA 22091 (703) 620-3660 
  • Provides publications for educators. Can also provide referral to ERIC Clearinghouse for Handicapped and Gifted Children. 
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health 
  • 1021 Prince Street 
  • Alexandria, VA 22314 703) 684-7710 
  • Provides information, support, and referrals through federation chapters throughout the country. This national parent-run organization focuses on the needs of children with broad mental health problems. 
HEATH Resource Center 
  • American Council on Education 
  • 1 Dupont Circle, Suite 800 
  • Washington, DC 20036 (800) 544-3284 
  • A national clearinghouse on post-high school education for people with disabilities. 

International Dyslexia Society 

Institute for Health and Disability  Learning Disabilities Association of America 
  • 4156 Library Road 
  • Pittsburgh, PA 15234 (412) 341-8077 
  • Provides information and referral to state chapters, parent resources, and local support groups. Publishes news briefs and a professional journal. 
Library of Congress 
  • National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 
  • 1291 Taylor Street, NW 
  • Washington, DC 20542 (202) 707-5100 
  • Publishes Talking Books and Reading Disabilities, a fact sheet outlining eligibility requirements for borrowing talking books. 
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill 
  • Children and Adolescents Network (NAMICAN) 
  • 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 302 
  • Arlington, VA 22201 (800) 950-NAMI 
  • Provides support to families through personal contact and support meetings. Provides education regarding coping strategies; reading material; and information about what works--and what doesn't. 
National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children 
  • 1522 K Street, NW Suite 1032 
  • Washington, DC 20005 (202) 408-3338 
  • Provides referrals to private special education programs. 
National Center for Learning Disabilities 
  • 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1420 
  • New York, NY 10016 (212) 687-7211 
  • Provides referrals and resources. Publishes "Their World" magazine describing true stories on ways children and adults cope with LD. 
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) 
  • P.O. Box 1492 
  • Washington, DC 20013-1492 
  • 1-800-695-0285 
  • (202) 884-8200 
  • E-mail: nichcy@aed.org 
  • URL: http://www.nichcy.org 
  • Provides personal responses to questions on disability issues, referrals to other organizations and agencies, information searches of NICHCY databases and library, technical assistance to parent and professionals, as well as numerous publications, many of which are free of charge.
Orton Dyslexia Society 
  • Chester Building, Suite 382 
  • 8600 LaSalle Road 
  • Baltimore, MD 21286-2044 (410) 296-0232 
  • Answers individual questions on reading disability. Provides information and referrals to local resources. 

References

Kujala, T, et al. Basic auditory dysfunction in dyslexia as demonstrated by brain activity measurements. Psychophysiology, 37:2; 262-266 (March 2000).

Lambe, E.K. Dyslexia, gender, and brain imaging. Neuropsychologia, 37:5; 521-536 (February 1, 1999).

Lyon, GA, Gray, DB, Kavanagh, JF, and Krasnegor, NA (eds). Better Understanding Learning Disabilities: New Views From Research and Their Implications for Education and Public Policies Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD (1993)

Rennie, J. Defining Dyslexia. Scientific American, 31-32 (July 1992).

Rosenberger, PB. Dyslexia: Is it a Disease? The New England Journal of Medicine, 326:3; 192-193 (January 16, 1992).

Rumsey, JM. The Biology of Developmental Dyslexia. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 268:7; 912-915 (August 19, 1992).

School of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, The University of Dublin, Trinity College, IRL-Dublin, Ireland. Dyslexia: oral and written language disorder. A new look at old links. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopedica, 52:1-3; 7-13 (January-June 2000).

Silver, LB. Controversial Approaches to Treating Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder American Journal of Diseases of Children, 140; 1045-1052 (October 1986)

To arrange for special college entrance testing for LD adults, contact: 
ACT Special Testing (319) 337-1332 
SAT Scholastic Aptitude Test (609) 771-7137 
GED (202) 939-9490 

Acknowledgments
This booklet was written by Sharyn Neuwirth, M.Ed., an education writer and instructional designer in Silver Spring, MD.
Scientific information and review was provided by NIMH staff members L. Eugene Arnold, M.D.; F. Xavier Castellanos,
M.D.; and Judith Rumsey, Ph.D. Also providing review and assistance were Marcia Henry, Ph.D., Orton Dyslexia Society;
Reid Lyon, Ph.D., National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Jean Petersen, Learning Disabilities
Association; and Larry B. Silver, M.D., Georgetown University. Editorial direction was provided by Lynn J. Cave, NIMH. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service 
National Institutes of Health 
National Institute of Mental Health 
NIH Publication No. 93-3611 
Printed 1993 

This information is available courtesy of the NIMH.  It is in the public domain and can be downloaded, reproduced, or copied without permission. For more information go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/practitioners/patinfo.cfm

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