Guide to Resources on Learning Differences
Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC)
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Contents
Basic Information
Specialists in the Field
Basic Terminology
Main National Organizations
Disability-Centered National Organizations
Education-Centered National Organizations
Law-Centered National Organizations
Parent-Centered National Organizations
State/Local Organizations
Book Resources
Texas Private Schools
Funding Information
General Sources
Websites
Assistive Technology Resources
PDF version
Related Links
Selected Materials on Learning Differences
National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
Basic Information
Before you contact any organization, make sure you know the following information:
- Child's Name
- Gender
- Age
- Current grade in school
- Current type of school attending: public, private, or home schooling
- Diagnosis (if there is one)
- Your purpose for contacting each organization; Be specific
As you are contacting organizations, do the following:
- Maintain a file of personal and professional observations of the child.
- Keep a log of contacts. Include this information:
a) the organization contacted
b) time/date
c) the specific person you communicated with
d) either write a brief summary of the conversation or save the correspondence received. - Read books and articles on the topic.
- Attend conferences when possible.
- Subscribe to newsletters.
- Network in person and online.
NOTE: The field of Learning Disabilities is very broad and constantly changing. The key is to find what methods and resources work best for your child/student.
Specialists in the Field
- Attorney: legal assistance
- Advocate: representation in legal issues
- Audiologist: diagnoses hearing loss
- Child psychiatrist: behavioral and emotional assessment and treatment; can prescribe medication
- Clinical psychologist: non-medical diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of behavioral and emotional problems
- Developmental behavioral pediatrician: diagnosis and treatment of developmental disorders; can prescribe medication
- Educational psychologist: prepares and conducts psychological and educational assessments
- Educational therapist: assesses educational needs and implements programs
- Neurologist: diagnosis and treatment of brain and nervous system problems; can prescribe medication
- Neuropsychologist: conducts psychological tests and assesses brain functioning
- Occupational therapist: provides assessment and treatment in the areas of muscle strength, motor or sensory coordination
- Pediatrician: primary care of children; can prescribe medication
- Social worker: counseling
- Speech and language therapist: assessment and treatment of communication disorders
- Tutor: provides academic assistance and support in one or more subject areas
Basic Terminology
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) - A severe difficulty in focusing and maintaining attention. Often leads to learning and behavior problems at home, school, and work. Also called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Brain Injury - The physical damage to brain tissue or structure that occurs before, during, or after birth that is verified by EEG, MRI, CAT, or a similar examination, rather than by observation of performance. When caused by an accident, the damage may be called Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
- Developmental Aphasia - A severe language disorder that is presumed to be due to brain injury rather than because of a developmental delay in the normal acquisition of language.
- Dyscalculia - A severe difficulty in understanding and using symbols or functions needed for success in mathematics.
- Dysgraphia - A severe difficulty in producing handwriting that is legible and written at an age-appropriate speed.
- Dyslexia - A severe difficulty in understanding or using one or more areas of language, including listening, speaking, reading, writing, and spelling.
- Dysnomia - A marked difficulty in remembering names or recalling words needed for oral or written language.
- Dyspraxia - A severe difficulty in performing drawing, writing, buttoning, and other tasks requiring fine motor skill, or in sequencing the necessary movements.
Main National Organizations
Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD)
4221 Forbes Blvd, Suite 270
Lanham, MD 20706
301-306-7070 / 301-306-7090 FAX
https://chadd.org
Council for Learning Disabilities (CLD)
11184 Antioch Rd, Box 405
Overland Park, KS 66210
913-491-1011, 913-491-1011 FAX
https://council-for-learning-disabilities.org/
Dyslexia Foundation
1 Clinton Place
New Bedford, MA 02740
617-838-4421
http://dyslexiafoundation.org/
Division for Learning Disabilities
Council for Exceptional Children
Teaching LD
http://teachingld.org
International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
40 York Rd, 4th Fl.
Baltimore, MD 21204
410-296-0232 / 410-321-5069 FAX
http://dyslexiaida.org/
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
4068 Mount Royal Boulevard, Suite 224B
Allison Park, PA 15101
412-341-1515
https://ldaamerica.org/
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
1220 L Street, NW Ste. 100 Box #168
Washington, DC 20005
www.ncld.org/
301-966-2234
Disability-Centered National Organizations
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
2200 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071 For Members
800-638-8255 For Non-Members
www.asha.org
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
2900 Crystal Dr, Ste 100
Arlington, VA 22202-3557
888-232-7733
https://exceptionalchildren.org/
NOTE: This is a professional organization for teachers.
Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic)
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
800-221-4792
http://www.learningally.org/
TASK (Team of Advocates for Special Kids)
www.taskca.org
Education-Centered National Organizations
American Library Association (ALA)
50 E. Huron St
Chicago, IL 60611
800-545-2433
ala@ala.org
www.ala.org
Association of Educational Therapists
7044 S. 13th St
Oak Creek, WI 53154
414-908-4949 x 450
customercare@AETonline.org
www.aetonline.org
Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
University of Massachusetts, Boston
107 Commerce Center Dr., Ste 204
Huntersville, NC 280780
704-947-7779
704-948-7779 FAX
www.ahead.org
HEATH
2134 G. St., NW Ste 308
Washington, D.C. 20052
askheath@gwu.edu
www.heath.gwu.edu
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
1401 H Street NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
202-232-8777 or 800-424-2460
www.naeyc.org
Law-Centered National Organizations
American Bar Association (ABA)
Center on Children and the Law
1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400
Washington, DC 20036
800-285-2221 or 202-662-1720
www.americanbar.org/groups/child_law.html
National Center on Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)
1144 Gateway Loop, Suite 200
Springfield, Oregon 97477
541-686-5060 phone 541-686-5063 FAX
www.directionservice.org/cadre
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
3075 Adeline St, Ste 210
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-644-2555
510-841-8645 FAX
info@dredf.org
www.dredf.org
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
P.O. Box 8970
Reno, NV 89507
775-507-4777
https://www.ncjfcj.org/national-center-for-juvenile-justice/
Parent-Centered National Organizations
Families and Advocates Partnerships for Education (FAPE)
PACER Center
8161 Normandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
952-838-9000
952-838-0199 FAX
pacer@pacer.org email
www.fape.org
National Parent Teacher Association
1250 N. Pitt St
Alexandria, VA 22314
800-307-4782
703-836-0942 FAX
www.pta.org
National Parent to Parent Support and Information System
Kathleen Judd, Project Director
PO Box 907
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
800-651-1151
706-632-8830 FAX
judd103w@wonder.em.cdc.gov
www.iser.com/NPPSIS-GA.html
PACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights)
8161 Normandale Blvd.
Bloomington, Minnesota 55437
800-537-2237
952-838-0199 FAX
www.pacer.org
NOTE: Use these national organizations both for acquiring general resources on Learning Disabilities and for locating local resources.
Local contacts can also be found in the following section:
State/Local Organizations
Academic Language Therapy Association Texas Chapters
https://alta-texas.weebly.com/
Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD): www.chadd.org
A search on this site will provide information on local support groups, parent to parent certified teachers, and ADHD professional services
North Texas CHADD chapter: www.ntxchadd.com/index.html
Children’s Disabilities Information Coalition (new organization)
1200 Golden Key Circle, Suite 310
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 217-2747
http://www.cdicelpaso.org/
International Dyslexia Association Texas Chapters
Dallas
972-233-9107 ext 222
www.dbida.org
Houston
832-282-7154
www.houstonida.org
Learning Disabilities Association of Texas (LDAT)
contactldatx@gmail.com
www.ldatx.org/
Statewide PTI Projects (Parent Training Information Centers)
http://prntexas.org/
https://prntexas.org/about-prn/find-your-pti/
Find Your PTI (Parent Training and Information Center)
1) PATH Project
Serves ESC Regions 2 - 6
2825 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 205
Houston, TX 77042-3396
409-898-4684 or Toll-free: 800-866-4726
832.987.1475 Fax
pathproject@sbcglobal.net
2) TEAM Project
Serves ESC Regions 1, 13, and 20
2825 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 205
Houston, TX 77042-3396
281-969-5944
Fax 832-987-1475
prnteamproject@gmail.com
3) PEN Project
Serves ESC Regions 9, 12, and 14-19
3 Butterfield Trail, Suite 128A
El Paso, TX 79906
915-259-8717 / 833-847-2686
penprntx@gmail.com
4) PACT Project
Serves ESC Regions 7, 8, 10 and 11
1331 Airport Fwy, Ste 303
Euless, TX 76040
469-712-8409 / 1-855-974-1368
prnpactproject@gmail.com
Texas Department of State Health Services
Audiovisual Library
1100 W. 49th St.
Austin, TX 78756-3199
888-963-7111 ext. 7260 or 512-776-7260
library@dshs.texas.gov
www.dshs.state.tx.us/avlib/
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Special Education Section
1701 N Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-9734
http://tea.texas.gov/
Other State/Local Resources For Information:
211/First Call for Help
Schools/Colleges/Universities
Public Libraries
Doctors
Neighborhood Literacy Programs
Book Resources
Bookshare
www.bookshare.org
Learning Ally
800-221-4792
www.learningally.org
Sight into Sound (for custom recording)
713-622-2767
info@sightintosound.org
www.sightintosound.org
American Printing House for the Blind Accessible Textbooks
https://www.aph.org/educational-resources/accessible-textbooks/
Texas Private Schools
Austin
Odyssey School: 512-472-2262, www.odysseyschool.com
Rawson-Saunders School: 512-476-8382, www.rawsonsaunders.org
Carrollton
St. Anthony's: 214-443-1205, http://thestanthonyschool.com
Dallas
Dallas Academy: 214-324-1481, www.dallas-academy.com
Fairhill School: 972-233-1026, http://fairhill.org
Hillier School: 214-526-7457, www.hillierschool.org
Oak Hill Academy: 214-353-8804, www.oakhillacademy.org
Preston Hollow: 214-368-3886, www.phps.org
Shelton School: 972-774-1772, www.shelton.org
Vanguard School: 972-404-1616, www.vanguardprepschool.com
Winston School: 214-691-6950, www.winston-school.org
Fort Worth
Child Study Center School: 682-303-9200, https://cookchildrens.org/child-study-center/Pages/default.aspx
Hill School: 817-923-9482, www.hillschool.org
Key School: 817-446-3738, http://keyschoolfortworth.org/
Learning Center of North Texas: 817-336-0808, www.tlcnt.org/
Starpoint Schools at TCU: 817-257-7141, www.starpoint.tcu.edu
Wedgwood Academy: 817-924-9095, http://wedgwoodacademy.org
Houston
Briarwood School: 281-493-1070, http://www.briarwoodschool.org/
Monarch School: 713-479-0800, www.monarchschool.org
Kemah
Tullis Farm School &Puppet Place: 281-334-6615, www.kemah.net/TFS.html
Longview
Crisman Preparatory School: 903-758-9741, www.crismanschool.org/
Plano
Great Lakes Academy: 972-517-7498 x103, http://www.greatlakesacademy.com/
San Antonio
Winston School: 210-615-6544, www.winston-sa.org
Funding Information for Private Schools
Types of Funding:
- Scholarships: criteria based, usually by type of disability, field of study, or state of residence
- Financial aid: need based
- Loans: usually must be repaid with interest
- Payment plans: monthly installments used for repayment
Specific Resources:
FACTS Tuition Management: payment plans
https://factsmgt.com/
Blackbaud
800-468-8996
https://www.blackbaud.com/solutions/financial-management/tuition-management
First Mark Services
888-538-7378
https://secure.firstmarkservices.com/Account/Login
Tuition Pay/Sallie May Corporation: https://www.salliemae.com/
Specific Programs:
Anne & Matt Harbison Scholarship
P. Buckley Moss Society
800-430-1320
http://www.mossfoundation.org/
For a graduating senior with a Learning Disability who plans to attend college. Nominations must be made through a representative of the Moss Society. At this time there are no Moss Society chapters in Texas.
Anne & Allegra Ford Scholarships
National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc.
www.ncld.org/what-we-do/scholarships/allegra-ford-thomas-scholarship/
www.ncld.org/what-we-do/scholarships/anne-ford-scholarship/
For a graduating senior with LD with plans to attend college
National Achievement Awards
Learning Ally
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
www.learningally.org/NAA.aspx
SLM Financial's K-12 Family Education 877-279-7172
www.salliemae.com/student-loans/student-loans-for-parents/private-school-loan/
Loan programs:
Loan programs for K-12 schools
Discover
800-788-3368
www.discover.com/student-loans/
Children's Scholarship Fund
8 W. 38th Street, 9th floor
New York, NY 10018
212-515-7100
http://www.scholarshipfund.org/
Provides partial tuition assistance for low-income families to send their children to private schools.
Some General sources
Center for Education Reform: www.edreform.com
Information on Scholarships:
www.collegeboard.org/
EStudentLoan.com
Finaid.org
www.thoughtco.com/private-school-4132514
Websites
Education Resources Information Center (ERIC): www.eric.ed.gov
Great Schools: www.greatschools.org
Guide to College-Level Tests:
www.onlineschools.org/college-test-guide/
Internet Special Education Resources (ISER):
www.iser.com/index.shtml
LD Resources: www.ldresources.com/
Assistive Technology Resources
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For writing skills:
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For listening skills:
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Computer programs:
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For organization skills:
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For reading skills:
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For math skills:
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NOTE: Please contact the Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC), a service provided by the Talking Book Program (TBP), for more information on assistive technology resources and on learning disabilities. TBP is a free lending library that provides recreational reading materials in alternative formats for qualified individuals in Texas who cannot read standard print or physically hold a book.
Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC)
Talking Book Program (TBP)
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
1-800-252-9605
512-463-5458
512-936-0685 FAX
tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov
Learning Difference Guide in PDF
If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer, you must first download it and install it on your own computer before you can print out the PDF version of the Talking Book Program application.
Follow these links to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader:
