The LDA Podcast
This biweekly series from the Learning Disabilities Association of America features individuals with learning disabilities, researchers, parents, educators, and other experts to discuss the latest LD research, strategies, lived experiences, and more!
Episodes
69 episodes since 2020
Outlasting Adversity: Dyslexia Made Me Strong
Adventure athlete and dyslexia advocate Meghan Buchanan is in the final stages of completing the Explorer's Grand Slam and was recently featured on Netflix's survival series, Outlast. In this episode, we dive into Meghan's experience on the sho...
September 11, 2024
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27:13
A Holistic Approach to LD Assessment: Reviewing LDA’s Standards with Dr. Rebecca Resnik
Dr. Rebecca Resnik, a past special education teacher and current psychologist, discusses the importance of holistic learning disability assessments, evidence-based intervention, and communicating neuroscience to educators to incorporate into pr...
July 31, 2024
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43:33
NVLD & ADHD: Linda Karanzalis’ Story
Linda Karanzalis is a board-certified cognitive specialist, Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD) and ADHD advocate, and author of Misnamed, Misdiagnosed, Misunderstood: Recognizing and Coping with NVLD from Childhood Through Adulthood. In this ...
July 17, 2024
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18:13
Keeping Learning Disabilities in the IDEA: A Talk with Dr. Nancy Mather
LDA’s Education Director Dr. Monica McHale-Small talks with Dr. Nancy Mather, a Professor Emeritus of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies, about the importance of keeping the category of specific learning disabilities in the Individuals...
July 03, 2024
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37:16
What is an Occupational Therapist, And How Can One Help?
Pediatric occupational therapist Sydney Krueger joins us to discuss what an occupational therapist does, how an OT can help someone with learning disabilities, ADHD, or mental health issues, different strategies that she uses in her practice, a...
June 19, 2024
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17:47
Managing Depression & Transition for Students with LD
Learning and behavior consultant Bev Johns and Mental Health Committee member Rachel Krueger discuss the symptoms and impact of depression on students with learning disabilities, dealing with transitions, and strategies for parents and educator...
May 22, 2024
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28:10
Empowering Struggling Readers: Lois and Nicholas’ Story
Lois Letchford, a reading specialist, dyslexia advocate, parent, and speaker joins us to share how her dyslexic son Nicholas went from non-reading to earning a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Oxford University. Lois talks about teaching Nich...
May 16, 2024
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29:23
Anxiety: A Parental & Professional Perspective
Bev Johns, a learning and behavior specialist, and parent Rachel Krueger, members of LDA's Mental Health Committee, provide insights into the prevalence of anxiety, the impact of anxiety in children with learning disabilities in school, strateg...
May 08, 2024
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28:16
A Talk with the "Let's Talk Learning Disabilities" Podcast
Educational diagnosticians Laurie Peterson and Dr. Abbey Weinstein are co-hosts of the popular Let's Talk Learning Disabilities Podcast, and join us to talk about the inspiration for the podcast, the meaningful impact it has on its listeners, a...
April 24, 2024
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23:40
Standardizing Learning Disability Evaluations: LDA's Principles & Standards
Currently schools in the U.S. can utilize three different evaluation methods when assessing children for learning disabilities, which can lead to learning disability identification varying from school to school. LDA's Education Director Dr. Mon...
April 10, 2024
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26:07
Special Education Knowledge is Power: A Talk with the DC Special Education Hub
We talk to Hannah Blumenfeld-Love, a past special education teacher and current program manager of the DC Special Education Hub, about how navigating special education can be intimidating for parents and caregivers, how essential parents are to...
March 27, 2024
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13:43
HCP: The Impact of Chlorpyrifos and Neurotoxins: Advocating for Children's Brain Health
Tracy Gregoire, the Director of LDA's Healthy Children Project, and Noorulane Jan, an associate attorney at Earthjustice, delve into the need to ban Chlorpyrifos, a dangerous chemical used in farming, and its impact on children's brain he...
March 27, 2024
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33:30
Empowering Self-Knowledge for Neurodiverse Students: A Discussion with Caroline Weaver
Caroline Weaver is an LD advocate, a past research student at the LEaRN Lab, and a current graduate student in the Department of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, and is using her research and lived experience to understand how we...
January 09, 2024
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18:28
Making a Mark!
LDA’s Education Director Dr. Monica McHale Small discusses "Making a Mark: Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity on a Learning Safari," a groundbreaking book authored by educator and learning specialist Kate McElderry and co-authored...
January 09, 2024
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Episode 56
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35:44
Learning Disabilities and Frequent Co-Occurring Conditions with Dr. Lauren McGrath
“Comorbidities are really common and expected.”With learning disabilities, other disorders like anxiety, ADHD, or another learning disability can frequently co-occur, and these comorbidities occur more often than cha...
December 05, 2023
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Episode 55
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30:44
Celebrating Young Advocates: Meet Elina Csapo!
Elina Csapo is a rising high school senior with apraxia who created Young Able Voices, a peer-to-peer support group for children and teens with hidden disabilities. Elina talks about overcoming bullying, the power of a community of support, the...
August 18, 2023
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20:04
Parenting Complex Kids with a Coach-Like Approach
Elaine Taylor-Klaus, a master certified coach and co-founder of ImpactParents, discusses executive functioning, social-emotional regulation, behavior challenges, communicating with the school, and the the four phases of parenting as a way that ...
August 10, 2023
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48:26
I Went Ahead and Proved Them Wrong: A Talk with Katie Selby
Because of her language impairment and learning disabilities, Katie Selby was often told that she wasn't 'college material.' After learning how to advocate for herself in high school, Katie went on to earn the degree she had been dreaming of, a...
August 08, 2023
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13:05
Beyond Books: Resources and Community at Your Local Library
We talk to Carrie Banks, a supervising librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, about the Inclusive Services Program, community-building opportunities at the library, and their universal design for learning approach. Carrie, who was once told ...
August 01, 2023
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26:55
The Power of Kindness: A Talk with Artist Mark Stoddart
Mark Stoddart, a renowned Scottish sculptor with dyslexia, has dedicated 30 years to creating captivating bronze sculptures. Many of these pieces serve a dual purpose of raising awareness and generating funds for important causes, particular...
July 27, 2023
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Episode 50
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51:24
Celebrating Young Advocates: Meet Jordan Greene!
Jordan Greene is a college freshman with ADHD, an author, motivational speaker, and an advocate for individuals with LD and ADHD. In middle school, Jordan saw the bullying she and her classmates with LD or ADHD faced, and decided to do so...
May 03, 2023
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16:56
Celebrating Young Advocates: Meet Aashna Shah!
Aashna Shah is a junior in high school, Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen, an author of three books, a motivational speaker, and a passionate learning disability advocate. Aashna shares her journey through her learning disability diagnosi...
April 25, 2023
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25:13
Advocacy in Special Education: A Talk With an IEP Coach
"I had an IEP through high school and I really know the power of the special education system...And I feel like I'm living out the purpose of an IEP, which is to prepare you for life after high school."Disability advocate, speech-langua...
April 13, 2023
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55:08
What is NVLD?
Dr. Jessica Broitman and Dr. Jack Davis explain the challenges individuals with a nonverbal learning disability face, helpful strategies and accommodations, and how they're part of a team working to get NVLD into the DSM. For more...
April 05, 2023
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51:25
Empowering Rebel Talent: A Talk with Denise Brodey
2023 Harrison Sylvester Award winner Denise Brodey is an LD & ADHD advocate, author, senior contributor to Forbes writing about disability, equity, and inclusion, and the founder of Rebel Talent, an organization that provides support to ind...
February 14, 2023
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36:13