LD OnLine News Headlines

“Today, I’m the parent of a new middle schooler with ADHD, which is why my own memories of middle school awkwardness and growing pains are flooding back. But I’m using my middle school experiences to help my child transition to a new academic stage with the least amount of stress possible. Here’s what helped him – and us – so far.”

Menus are usually something you’d expect to come across in a restaurant. But one social media influencer went viral recently for sharing a different kind of menu – a “dopamine menu” or dopamenu.

Kelley, a single parent living in Bayview, knew something wasn’t right with her son. She asked the school to test her son for a learning disability. She said they gave her the runaround; their reading test, after all, showed her son was doing fine.

Near the end of first grade, the school finally agreed to do a more comprehensive evaluation. The results showed her son was so far behind his peers in reading and writing that he fit the profile for dyslexia. The Benchmark Assessment System had been — and would continue to be — wrong about how well he could read.

When Gil Gershoni was in 3rd grade and his teacher assigned the 30 or so students in his class turns at reading aloud, he quickly developed an avoidance strategy. He figured out the approximate number of seconds that each student read. Two students before his turn, he would raise his hand and ask to go to the restroom, where he’d sit in a stall and count in his head until he knew that his turn had been bypassed by at least two students. Then he would return to his seat in the classroom and hope the teacher didn’t circle back to him. Decades later, Gershoni now jokingly calls it his “power play.”

Artificial intelligence could revolutionize how people with dyslexia navigate K-12 schools and the rest of the world,.

Vivian Li, 27, felt “relief” when she was diagnosed earlier this year with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“A lot of the stress and mental baggage I had before suddenly disappeared … I just felt that there is hope,” Ms Li said.

“ChatGPT can help us hash things out so that we feel more prepared, comfortable, and confident in communicating with others.” Learn how adults with ADHD are using artificial intelligence as an executive function tool and creative outlet.

Long-term use of ADHD medications can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease in both children and adults, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry.

The point when a child with special educational needs (SEN) is diagnosed is an important moment in their lives. But girls and boys don’t fare equally. 

Changing how dyslexia is diagnosed could help many more children learn to read

Personal Perspective: Parents can learn a lot from their neurodiverse children.

When Andrea Fraser-Winsby, 48, went to her family doctor to seek a diagnosis for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year, she was immediately told she did not have the condition. 

“He basically said, ‘I don’t think you have that,’” said Fraser-Winsby. “He just shut me down and it was really discouraging.”

“ADHD does not happen in a vacuum, and its effects are far more impairing when the condition goes undiagnosed, untreated, or improperly treated.”

Millions of people in the UK who take drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are facing difficulties getting their prescriptions filled due to shortages. These shortages are currently affecting four of the five types of medicine licensed in the UK to treat ADHD.

Kids with ADHD can face a lot of hardship—but their parents do too. These tips could help.

A child psychologist, he argued that behavioral therapy had to come first in addressing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, with drugs like Ritalin as a supplement.

“Her undiagnosed neurodivergence has shaped my approach to work and parenting.”

Manhattan dad Tom Fiorella wanted a public high school that could challenge his child and accommodate learning disabilities. He spent countless hours scouring websites, attending open houses, and emailing parent coordinators in search of answers.

“It’s complex – it’s a lot of work,” said Fiorella, whose child began ninth grade this year. “It was hard to get solid information.”

Now, a group of parent advocates is pushing for more high schools to offer open houses specifically geared toward students with disabilities. They’ve sent a flurry of messages to school leaders to persuade them to roll out the information sessions more widely.

Defense Department schools are moving students with learning disabilities into general education classrooms for some subjects, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense Education Activity – Pacific confirmed Friday.

Illinois has also taken steps to change literacy instruction with the passage of a law that requires the Illinois State Board of Education to create a literacy plan by Jan. 31, 2024. In June, the state board released an initial draft of the plan, which says universal screening for literacy skills is essential and aspiring teachers need to be trained in the science of reading.

However, because the draft plan does not mandate districts to change how reading is taught in classrooms, literacy advocates worry that it is not enough to push schools to get rid of balanced literacy. 

Administrators should carefully evaluate the goals of intervention programs, what they hope to achieve, and how closely they are being followed.

This evidence-based reading methodology is gaining traction. Learn why.

How to wake up and get going when sleep inertia is strong: Cool the body, drink water after waking, do light stretches, reward yourself, and other techniques for getting out of bed in the morning.

“Even in the midst of Happy Days, at the height of my fame and success, I felt embarrassed, inadequate.”

“To help your daughter feel supported and less alone, actively listen, and show genuine interest and empathy by nodding, making eye contact, holding her hand, and providing verbal affirmations.”

A typewriting trend among teenagers could help kids become better writers, experts say.

Three Australians share their experiences in the hope of helping others with ADHD.

ADHD diagnosis and treatment guidelines for adults in the U.S. will be published in 2024, says APSARD President, Ann Childress, in an interview with ADDitude.

Michigan lawmakers recently introduced several bipartisan bills they say would improve educational outcomes for students with dyslexia. Some advocates say that in order for the bills to make a difference, the entire special education system in the state needs an overhaul.

How does MTSS relate to special education?

Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of students face challenges learning math due to disabilities like dyscalculia, a neurodevelopmental learning disorder caused by differences in parts of the brain that are involved with numbers and calculations. There are often obstacles to getting help.

Impulse control and curbing negative emotions are superpowers to be practiced.

Journaling can help you gain clarity, manage tasks better, and live a more organized life with ADHD. Here are some tips to get started.

Hiring with neurodiversity in mind isn’t just inclusive—it can give businesses the edge. So how can you promote it in your organisation?

The number of students in special education in the United States has doubled over the past four decades, with schools responsible for providing special services to a growing segment of their student bodies.

“The first rule of thumb for managing ADHD: Put down the stick.” And other strategies for cultivating self-compassion, especially when you’re raising a child with ADHD.

Who knew ADHD could be a third wheel?

Mental toughness. Self-confidence. Persistence. Resilience. The greatest athletes exhibit these characteristics, thanks in no small part to sports psychologists. Here, we learn how ADHD brains can benefit from adopting a Mamba Mentality that powers elite athletes.

Aged in his late 20s and struggling with depression and anxiety, Aaron Annese had reached breaking point when he finally found the courage to seek professional help.

Taking that step led to a diagnosis which has changed his life for the better, but managing his ADHD since has been incredibly challenging

English learners are one of the fastest growing student populations in the country with a variety of unique needs that educators must address for their academic success. Even more factors and nuances come into play when English learners are also identified as having a disability.

Informal school removal is an insidious, pervasive, and often illegal response to student misbehavior. Here, an attorney and parent advocate explains how to fight it using an IEP, functional behavioral assessment, and the law.

ADDitude recently asked educators how they resolve differences with parents and develop lasting partnerships. Here, we share their strategies for strengthening trust and improving collaboration with students’ caregivers.

Personal Perspective: Advice for easing the difficult transition to college.

Struggling to sort out your day, week or life and think your ADHD could be playing a part in that? You’re not alone.

When The Post asked readers to describe their home-schooling experiences, nearly 1,100 responded. Here’s what they told us.

We’ve come a long way in our understanding of ADHD, and as a mother and a former teacher, I am grateful for the enlightened future ahead.

As a new school year begins, parents and doctors find medication shortages are leading to declines in learning and self-esteem.

Special education professionals often gripe about the onslaught of paperwork they’re required to fill out, on top of the challenges of providing robust services to students with disabilities.

What if artificial intelligence could wipe out at least some of that burden?

The number of students in special education in the United States has doubled over the past four decades, creating a rising share of public school kids who need special education services.

Does ChatGPT stand up to all the hype? Find out how people with ADHD are using artificial intelligence to manage their day-to-day tasks.

Here, current and former college students with ADHD share the formal and informal accommodations that helped them lock down a degree.

Betty Hogg struggled with reading and math for years, only now understands her brain is wired differently

A panel of teachers shares the most effective ADHD accommodations and teaching strategies they use to help neurodivergent students find success in the classroom.

Understanding the science of reading is a necessary starting point

The link between executive function deficits and organizational skills.

Behind a veneer of accomplishment, underneath good grades and musical talents, Emily Chen was in disarray. She never knew what she was missing, perpetually cycling through potential mistakes in her mind in a desperate attempt not to slip up.

In 2021, research showed that for every 100 white children diagnosed with ADHD, there are 83 Black and 77 Hispanic children, and just 48 Asian children, with the diagnosis.

Anita passes the mic to our friends at the feminist documentary podcast “Bodies” for an exploration of ADHD and identity. Producer Hannah Harris Green talks about how getting an ADHD diagnosis helped her release the shame she’d been carrying since childhood.

A new study found that 82% of 17- to 29-year-olds with ADHD had gaming disorder and 59% had Internet gaming disorder, suggesting that the diagnostic criteria for IGD/GD could identify patients with attention deficit.

Some families turn to independent schools to get more intensive help for their children. But special schools or private tutors can be costly. Now, however, a handful of public schools are emerging that are dedicated to serving students with dyslexia and other language-based reading delays. 

Welcome to the complicated life of the neurodivergent — an umbrella term used to describe a variety of neurobiological conditions, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders and anxiety. While any child can have a bad episode, families with neurodivergent children tend to field more of them.