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6.01.2025

Learning Disabilities Week: Advocate to Set Your Child Up for Success

By Kate Pflughoeft, PhD; Nevada Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and Development, Preschool Development Grant Birth-5. 

We all want to be seen for who we are, our strengths, what we can achieve, and what makes us special. Being seen is one of the objectives of Learning Disabilities Week (June 16th – 22nd), a time to remember that our friends and families with learning differences are not alone. 

We can support them and spread awareness and importantly, have a conversation with someone with a learning disability or support team and discuss how they feel and how they can be helped.

We can all seek to reach a greater awareness and understanding by learning some of the basics about learning disabilities (or learning differences [LD]) and how to support people who live with them.  

The most common types of learning differences and associated characteristics or traits to look out for, are found in the table below. 

If you notice your child developing some of the characteristics, talk to their pediatrician, as they will best be able to help you determine if there is cause for concern and connect you to resources to help you move forward and improve outcomes.

One such resource is Project ASSIST – Nevada’s centralized hub for assistance. Supports are available not only to diagnose and help your child with learning strategies and services but also to help families make the adjustments (structural or emotional) necessary to best support their child. 

Take action – set your child up for success!

Step 1. You are your child’s best advocate, and to fill that role you must become informed. Start asking questions to learn about the LD. What services will help your child succeed? What are the recommended learning strategies for children with your child’s diagnosis? Remember to save everything, so that you have a record documenting your child’s evaluations and grades.

Step 2. Use the information that you gathered to develop a student success plan for your child. There are multiple ways to use this plan. Develop an information sheet for your child to introduce them to educators. What is their diagnosis (with key points on the diagnosis)? What are your child’s strengths and weaknesses? What learning methods (accommodations) work best for your child? Building a success plan will also equip you for future Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 meetings with your child’s school.

Step 3. Set up formal plans (IEP or 504) with your child’s school. If you have worked with Nevada Early Intervention Services, you and your child will be introduced to the Special Education team. If you did not make the connection before your child aged out of Early Intervention (at age 3), speak with your child’s teachers or the school for which they are zoned. 

Step 4. Communicate with your child’s education team. Some families like to use communication logs to trac, this. Find a way to communicate what works for your family and your child’s teachers. Educators are busy people, and while it may seem that they don’t have time for your child, they do care and want to see your special kid succeed. Don’t be afraid to reach out.  

Step 5. Breath, you are doing great. This is a marathon, not a sprint. When the system works as planned you will have a team to help you through. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, so learn when to push back. You may face struggles along the way, but when prepared you will have resources available to help you through. Importantly, even though your child may have a learning difference, love them and enjoy what makes them special.

Resources: 

Nevada Early Intervention Services Early Intervention Programs

Learning Disabilities Association of America New to LD – Learning Disabilities Association of America

Learning Disorders: Know the Signs, how to help Learning disorders: Know the signs, how to help - Mayo Clinic

Glossary (everything has an acronym) Special Education Terms To Know – Learning Disabilities Association of America

You can also check out additional resources on the Special Needs & Early Intervention page on First 5 Nevada!