Overview In 2014, the Child Development Institute (CDI) and the Integra Foundation amalgamated, bringing together two like-minded children’s mental health agencies in Toronto. As a result, the CDI is now the only accredited children’s mental health agency providing evidence-informed, therapeutic programs and services to children, youth and their families who are dealing with mental health [...]
ADHD and learning disabilities (LDs) are not the same thing, although there are similarities. ADHD can impact learning and behaviour and according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), approximately one-third of individuals with LDs have ADHD too, which causes confusion for teachers, parents and students. Both ADHD and LDs are neurological disorders affecting how the brain receives and processes information; however, with respect to treatment, ADHD is often treated with medication and therapy, and LDs with educational and behavioural approaches.
Summarized by Cindy Perras, M.Ed., OCT Educational Consultant, LDAO EduGAINS is an Ontario Ministry of Education website which provides Ministry developed resources to support policies and programs related to improved learning and teaching, for grades K – 12; the target audience for these resources is Ontario educators. In addition to the Ministry developed resources, the [...]
Understanding Learning Disabilities: How Processing Affects Learning, developed by the York Region District School Board, is a comprehensive resource designed for educators working with students with learning disabilities, from kindergarten to grade 12. Referred to as the “waterfall chart”, this resource provides the starting points to think, plan and support programming in response to a student’s assessed areas of strength and/or need.
Summarized by Cindy Perras, M.Ed., OCT, Educational Consultant, LDAO The Balanced Literacy Diet is a framework for understanding and teaching literacy; the framework is designed to provide a comprehensive, multifaceted Internet resource (Click here to access the free website) to support the development of research-informed reading and writing instruction in schools. The framework itself presents literacy [...]
Better is created by the Institute for Effective Education at the University of York and by the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University. The Institute for Effective Education (IEE) at the University of York is working to establish what works in learning and teaching — and why. Better is a companion to the Best-Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE-UK), a free web [...]
Bookshare is the world's largest accessible digital library for people with print and learning disabilities and provides access to more than 125,000 books for readers in Canada, including bestsellers, children’s books, reference books, classics, fiction and nonfiction, direct from publishers. Visit the Bookshare Canada website
CAST is a nonprofit research and development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This website provides information on UDL, current research into best practice and free learning tools for parents and educators. Visit the CAST website
The Reading Rockets library "provides teachers with effective, research-based classroom strategies to help build and strengthen literacy skills in print awareness, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing." View the Guide
“All students with special needs are unique. Their needs may be recognized by teacher and parent observations and/or assessment by a certified professional. Some students may have their needs formally identified as an exceptionality through and Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC). Regardless of the manner by which needs are determined, teachers and school teams [...]
