LDA of Michigan in 2020

2020 has been a roller coaster of a year for most of us in Michigan for sure! At LDA of Michigan, we started out the year waiting for the confirmation that we had gotten our non-profit status fully reinstated, planning to restart our Annual Conferences in October, and making plans to reboot other LDA MI activities. After we returned from the LDA International Conference raring to go, we had to start changing plans due to COVID-19 but we did not let that bring us to a full stop. We celebrated the confirmation of our 501(c)3 status, shifted our Annual Conference to a webinar, continued to represent individuals with learning disabilities to legislators and on SEAC, and we confirmed our transition of Board Members. Through it all, we have been sharing resources for remote learning and kept answering calls (or emails) for help from parents and adults with learning disabilities as we all navigate evaluations, services, and employment during the pandemic.

We are starting to develop our plans for 2021. We support individuals with learning disabilities, their teachers, and their families through the dedication of our volunteers like our Board Members and from the support of donations and members, like you! Be part of #standingupforLD. Make sure your membership is current today!

At LDA of Michigan, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all individuals with learning disabilities and their families through advocacy, education, training, service and support of research. Here are just a few ways we worked for our mission this past year!

Advocacy & Service

LDA MI worked to respond to email and phone calls to connect parents and individuals with learning disabilities to resources throughout Michigan. Contacts included individuals from:

    • Alpena
    • Ann Arbor
    • Berrien Springs
    • Byron Center
    • Clifford
    •  Detroit
    • Lansing
    • Mt. Clements
    • Oak Park
    • Redford
    • Sanilac County

We are developing some responses to the most frequently asked questions and will post those on our website in this upcoming year!

Healthy Children Project

Tracy Gregoire, LDA Healthy Children Project’s Coordinator, helped LDA MI provide input to the State of Michigan’s Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy for the proposed maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of PFAS chemicals permitted under Michigan’s regulatory drinking water standards in the drafted rules submitted to Governor Whitmer in October 2019. Amended rules took effect in August 2020.

Education & Training

This fall marks five years since we established the LDA of Michigan Flo Curtis Special Education Endowment at Michigan State University!

Support of Research

In October, Dr. Dawn Flanagan shared with LDA of Michigan How to Quickly and Easily Find and Tailor Interventions and Resources for Students with Learning Difficulties Based on Assessment Results. She will also be back in 2021 for a series of webinars to share pertinent and quality research related to advancing the well-being of individuals with learning disabilities.