Frequently Asked Questions

To apply for a LDANR program, you will be required to complete an application form and submit supporting documents (i.e., Report Card) to assist us in determining your child’s eligibility for the program. The link to access the application form, as well as information regarding current or upcoming application dates, can be found on the program webpages.

It is strongly recommended that you review the eligibility criteria listed on the program webpage prior to applying to determine if your child would meet the criteria. If you are unsure if your child would be considered eligible, you may want to connect with the Program Coordinator prior to completing an application form. The Program Coordinator can provide you with useful information regarding programs and whether the program would likely meet your child’s needs.

As part of the application, we require you to submit supporting documentation to assist us in determining your child’s eligibility for the program. At minimum, you will be required to submit your child’s Report Card* (dated within the past year). Be sure to have your child’s Report Card ready to upload to the application.

Other supporting documentation may include:

• Individual Education Plan (IEP)
• Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
• Assessments (Psychological, Developmental, Speech/Language, etc.)
• Teacher Feedback Form (if possible – Click Here for the Teacher Feedback Form)

Only documents in English can be accepted.

Supporting documents in PDF format are preferred. 

Other forms of documentation may be accepted in lieu of a Report Card with prior approval from the Program Coordinator. For questions regarding acceptable documentation, please contact the Program Coordinator.

The LDANR’s programs are designed to support individuals who are struggling with a learning disability, however the individual does not need to be formally diagnosed with a learning disability to participate in these programs. The LDANR recognizes that a formal diagnosis completed by a Registered Psychologist can be difficult for families to obtain due to lengthy waitlists and high cost of psycho-educational and psychological assessments.

Instead, the LDANR collects supporting documentation, such as the student’s Report Card, during the application process to determine if the applicant fits the profile of an individual with a learning disability.

Please note, while exceptionalities such as Autism, Mild Intellectual Disability, etc. may impact an individual’s learning, a learning disability is a specific impairment and is distinct from these and other exceptionalities.

After you complete a program application form and submit the required supporting documents, a screening process will take place to determine your child’s eligibility for the program. Program spots are then filled with eligible applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

You will be notified of the status of your child’s application within two weeks of submitting an application. If your child is accepted to the program, you will be provided with instructions on how to make payment (if applicable) and how to provide the LDANR with further information required for your child’s participation in the program (i.e., emergency contact information). You will then be notified of program details including the time, location, and other important program information a week or two prior to the start of the program.

The LDANR recognizes that some families in the Niagara Region cannot always afford LDANR programs. It is important to the LDANR that cost does not act as a barrier to families accessing LDANR services. Therefore, the LDANR offers the following options to families:

1. Payment plans: The LDANR office staff will work with families to determine a payment plan that works with them. Please note that an initial down payment will be required.
2. Financial Assistance: At times, the LDANR has access to funds to provide full or partial subsidy to families. If a family requires financial assistance, they will be asked to complete a subsidy application form. The LDANR will do our best to work closely with families on a case-by-case basis to alleviate any financial barriers to accessing our programs.

Pre-school Years

• Trouble nursing, sucking, digesting
• Delays in sitting, standing, walking
• Delayed language
• Overly active; early walking, running
• Lack of or excessive response to sound or other stimuli
• Difficulty following directions or learning routines

School Years

• Difficulty with reading, writing, spelling or mathematics
• Difficulty expressing ideas
• Reads but does not comprehend
• Poor social skills, few friends
• Cannot foresee consequences
• Left-right confusion
• Impulsivity
• Difficulty with abstract thinking
• Poor gross or fine motor coordination
• Reversals in numbers and letters
• Difficulty following directions
• Memory and attention problems

Dyslexia – A Reading Disability
Difficulty with reading, writing, spelling, speaking.

Dyscalculia – A Math Disability
Difficulty with solving math problems, understanding time, using money.

Dysgraphia – A Writing Disability
Difficulty with handwriting, spelling, organizing ideas.

LDs are a life-long condition – they do not go away – but can be coped with successfully by using areas of strength to compensate and accommodations such as assistive technology.

Yes! The LDANR partners with local post-secondary institutions to provide hands-on, meaningful learning experiences for students. If you are hoping to complete a placement with the LDANR as a component of your studies, please complete a volunteer intake form and an LDANR office staff will be in touch to determine if the placement would be a good fit.

Prospective placement students will be interviewed, and will be required to provide the LDANR will proof of enrolment as well any required documents to be completed as part of the placement.