The first recommended online resource is the website of the Learning Disabilities Association of America. There is a large section with information for the parents of children with suspected or diagnosed learning disabilities. Using this website, parents can find disability-related resources in their states to consult with local professionals, get acquainted with current research on disabilities in students, and improve their knowledge of disability rights.
It is also important that the available materials and articles assist parents in identifying disabilities by educating them on the process of disability assessments and how to collaborate with medical professionals, special education teams, and schools to support the proper identification of their children’s needs. Additionally, parents can use the website to acquire new knowledge about the types of learning disabilities known today, the signs and symptoms that indicate their presence, and recommendations on how to communicate with such children and reduce their barriers to learning and living a full-fledged life.
The next resource is Verywell Family – a website with health-related articles and publications for parents and those planning pregnancy. The section of the website devoted to learning disabilities is specifically aimed at people who suspect such disabilities in their children and wish to critically analyze their concerns and learn more about the signs of special education needs. The website cited above is an example of an educational resource for parents that facilitates the dissemination of up-to-date and research-based information regarding learning disabilities in children.
In particular, it offers a wide range of articles to dispel common myths about learning disabilities, review effective assessments that parents may need to request, discuss the age-specific signs of learning disabilities, and explain the way of how the results of assessments are interpreted. Therefore, the second resource supports parents and assists them in identifying disabilities by improving their literacy regarding learning disabilities and collaboration with education professionals. The third online resource that can be extremely helpful to parents is LD Online. It is a registered educational service that is supported by the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities.
The resource assists parents of children with suspected disabilities in two different ways. To begin with, it offers a large number of articles and audio or video materials devoted to the signs of common learning difficulties, warning symptoms for different grade levels, current research in disabilities and ADD in young learners, parents’ collaboration with schools to promote early identification of disabilities, and similar topics to disseminate knowledge. Next, there is a separate section with materials for parents that seek professional help. For instance, they can access a comprehensive list of websites and organizations that support parents of children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities or search for books and manuals for such parents.