October is LD Awareness Month: Stay tuned for details of our social media contest!
Did you know that October is Learning Disabilities Awareness month??
For the month of October, LDANR will be celebrating LD awareness month by hosting a social media contest where you can enter to win 1 of 4 $25 Book Outlet gift cards! Stay tuned for more details.
However this month long effort is about more than events, rather it is about raising awareness and reducing stigma to allow people to get the supports they need to reach their potential.
“People too often define the life of someone living with Learning Disabilities by the areas where they need support such as math, reading, writing or organizational skills. Too often other negative labels follow , Dumb , Lazy or Disruptive. Nothing could be further from the truth” Said Lawrence Barns President and CEO of LDAO “The goal of this campaign is for people to see the areas of strength and abilities which often get overlooked.”
The Stats
- 1 In 10 people in Ontario are impacted.
- 35% Of students with LDs drop out of school
- 62% of students with LDs will be unemployed a year after graduation
- 36% of youth in correctional facilities have specific learning disabilities.
- Almost 50% of adolescent suicides have a diagnosis of an LD. (Source LDAC Pacfold survey)
Together we can change this!
However if society helps them to succeed, all of the above statistics can be radically altered, leading to successful lives that can impact our communities for the better and people with learning disabilities can become among the most creative, and productive members of our communities.
About the Campaign:
The greatest hurdle a person with an LD often had to overcome is the stigma and public perception, labelled lazy, stupid or incompetent they begin to hide their disability and instead struggle in silence. Yet with their strengths and above average intelligence some simple support can see them excel in their chosen field. Our hope is to see Ontario as the leader in destroying the barriers stigma creates.
About LDAO:
The Learning Disabilities Associations of Ontario are registered charities dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth and adults with learning disabilities. Through the local chapters, services to the public are provided through a network of Chapters across Ontario. LDAs receive no government funding for their work and rely on the generous support of donors and funders.
LDAO’s Mission:
LDAO’s mission is to provide leadership in learning disabilities advocacy, research, education and services and to advance the full participation of children, youth and adults with learning disabilities in today’s society. We value promoting positive change through:
- Innovation
- Strategic partnerships
- Credible advocacy
- Informed public policy and
- Quality products and services
More about Learning Disabilities:
- By definition someone with LDs has average to above average intelligence
- LDs impact certain skills, most of which can be improved with the right supports.
- Because LDs usually exhibit in the school system, those with LDs can be identified early in life, and early intervention improves confidence.
- When they don’t receive appropriate support, individuals with LDs have higher than the average rates of school dropout, unemployment and poverty.
- LDs can be inherited and many parents are now finding they are have been impacted in their lives as their children are diagnosed.
Dyslexia: Difficulties with oral and/or written language, i.e., listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Dysgraphia: Difficulties with writing legibly with age-appropriate speed, and with written expression
Dyscalculia: Difficulties with basic math skills, calculating, and math problem-solving
Executive Function: A set of mental processes that helps connect past experience with present action. People use it to perform activities such as planning, organizing, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space.
For Further Information Contact:
Lawrence Barns – President & CEO, LDAO
416 929 4311 x27
Samantha Sendzik – Acting Executive Director, LDANR
905-641-1021