Groundbreaking New Spanish-language Initiative from the National Center for Learning Disabilities

Latino families get the help they need to be informed and confident partners in helping their children to be successful learners with new resources from the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Today one in five school children is Hispanic, and it is estimated that Hispanics will account for 95% of the teen population growth in the U.S. in the next decade. Many of these children are at special risk for lower academic achievement, grade repetition, and school dropout. Hispanic families need access to information about learning disabilities (LD) and other resources to help their children receive the services and supports they need to succeed in school and beyond.

A first-of-its-kind Spanish-language initiative for children facing learning disabilities is being launched to increase early detection and intervention of learning disabilities, which can be pivotal to educational success. Until now Spanish-speaking families have had scarce resources to help them understand the signs of learning disabilities, nor have they had the resources available to help resolve learning issues or to find the answers to questions about how to access resources that will translate into school success.

"Early detection of barriers to learning can be life-changing for young students, and every Spanish-speaking parent and caregiver should know about these free resources," said James H. Wendorf, executive director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. "Now Hispanic families can access online tools and information in English and Spanish that will help them to be effective advocates for their children."

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is pleased to launch an extensive toolkit and informational campaign in Spanish to help families detect the signs of LD, work with their children to develop and enhance skills, and be an advocate for their children at school. This comprehensive toolkit is the first-of-its-kind for Hispanic families, with over three-dozen Spanish-language resources available including an interactive guide to help parents detect learning disabilities and recommendations for helping young children overcome barriers to early reading. The Spanish language online kit can be found by clicking here.

The informational campaign also includes briefings with educational and community leaders nationwide, as well as an online advertising campaign that aligns with the growing use of search engines and social media among Spanish speakers. Additional Spanish-language resources will be publicly launched in the coming months, to create what will be the largest online learning disabilities resource nationwide.

Early identification of struggle is critical to ensuring educational success for children facing learning disabilities, and this initiative has the promise to profoundly help Hispanic families.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities' (NCLD) mission is to ensure success for all individuals with learning disabilities in school, at work and in life. At NCLD, we connect parents and others with resources, guidance and support so they can advocate effectively for their children; we deliver evidence-based tools, resources and professional development to educators to improve student outcomes; and we develop policies and engage advocates to strengthen educational rights and opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.LD.org

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebResourcesHispanicChildren/NCLD/prweb8927102.htm