Understanding Learning Disabilities Conference

Friday, October 13

Saturday, October 14

Dr. Anneke Schreuder

The Hidden Struggle: Shedding Light on Dyscalculia in Education

Dr. Schreuder is a Dutch pediatrician and neonatologist, with a particular interest in the field of developmental epidemiology. Awareness, communication, research, and remediation of Dyscalculia are her mission.

In 2010, she started Dyscalculia Services to provide assessments, in-person, and online tutoring for children and adults, and to assist parents in supporting their children’s learning. In her practice, Dr. Schreuder follows and implements the latest research on the subject of learning disabilities and best practices for intervention.

Dr. Julie Washington

Language Variation and Reading Struggle: The Impact of Cultural Dialects

Dr. Washington is a Professor in the School of Education at the University of California – Irvine (UCI) and an Alumni of the University of Michigan. 

When children enter school the language that they bring with them is critical for supporting language-based skills such as reading and writing. When the language used differs significantly from the language of text language assessment, and learning important text-based skills can become complicated. Children who use varieties of English, also called dialects, must manage these mismatches between oral language and text in order to demonstrate their language competence and to master reading, writing and spelling. This presentation examines these important factors, and discusses the role of translanguage in supporting these children who may struggle to learn to read.

About Our Conference

The Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Michigan is the leading resource for educators, parents, professionals, and adults with learning disabilities (LDs) in our state. LDs impact all aspects of an individual’s life – from education, social skills, and mental health to identity and employment. 

Right now, Michiganders need our support more than ever to improve outcomes for individuals with LDs. In response to this need, LDA of Michigan is hosting a two-day conference for educators, parents, professionals, and adults with LDs.

This year’s conference attendees will receive resources to help understand, teach, and support those with learning disabilities (LDs) and commonly co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, speech and language issues, and anxiety and depression. 

Our conference will feature national, regional, and state experts who will provide training on evidence-based practices that educators can employ right away. 

Workshop sessions will also promote collaboration between attendees to improve identification, intervention, and planning for students with LDs. 

Additionally, our conference will bring together transition coordinators, vocational program providers, parents, employers, and adults with LDs to build a more robust network for workplace success.

 

Conference Schedule

FRIDAY

7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Conference Registration Open

7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open

8:00 – 9:30 AM Breakfast and Keynote Presentation

9:30 – 10:00 AM Networking Break

10:00 AM – 12:15 PM Break-Out Sessions

12:15 – 1:15 PM Luncheon (included with registration)

1:15 – 3:45 PM Break-Out Sessions

3:45 – 4:15 PM Networking Break

4:15 – 5:00 PM LDA Michigan Annual Meeting (open to all who would like to learn more about LDA MI and our work in MI)

SATURDAY

7:00 AM – 12:00 PM Conference Registration Open

7:00 AM – 12:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open

8:00 – 9:30 AM Breakfast and Keynote Presentation

9:30 – 10:00 AM Networking Break

10:00 AM – 12:15 PM Break-Out Sessions

12:15 – 1:15 PM Luncheon

1:15 – 3:45 PM Break-Out Sessions

Break-Out Session Topics Include:

  • Resiliency
  • Parent & Special Education Administrator Relationships
  • Navigating Challenging Relationships
  • Successful IEP Teams
  •  Vocabulary Instruction
  • The Changes Coming for Teacher Preparation and Certification – what that will mean for students with disabilities
  • Language & Behavior
  • Lived Experience: Advocating K-Grad School

Break-Out Session Topics Include:

  • How Speech & Language Deficits Impact Learning
  • ABA: What it is and what it isn’t
  • Advocacy Resources and Training for Parents
  • Positive Coping Skills
  • Phonological Awareness and Active Learning
  • Strategies for Working with Children who Have Been Exposed to Lead
  • Preparing for Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
  • What is MI-LEND?