June 2024

Despite progress, obtaining necessary services and tools for education remains a struggle for parents and young adults with learning disabilities. Working adults also face difficulties revealing their LD for fear of negative consequences.

Dr. Meadow Schroeder:

is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary in the Werklund School of Education. Her research examines various issues related to students with disabilities, including Learning Disabilities (LD). Her research interests include a) the transition from high school to postsecondary education, b) assessment issues related to LD, and c) how students are supported in school (e.g., teaching self-regulation strategies in mathematics). She has taught graduate-level courses on academic and language assessment and intervention, learning disabilities in the classroom, and ethics in psychology. She also has more than a decade of clinical experience conducting psycho-education assessment and interventions for children with LD and ADHD.

For more information on her work, you can visit:

https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/meadow-schroeder

• The Gauntlet (2024). University of Calgary U of C researchers design a computer game to help students with learning disabilities. https://thegauntlet.ca/2023/07/13/u-of-c-researchers-design-a-computer-game-to-help-students-with-learning-disabilities/
• Schroeder, M., Drefs, M. A., & Zwiers, M. (2020). Comparing math LD diagnostic rates obtained using LDAC and DSM-5 criteria: Implications for the field. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 35(3), 175-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0829573520915366
• Schroeder, M., Drefs, M. A., & Cormier, D. C. (2017). The Messiness of LD Identification: Contributions of Diagnostic Criteria and Clinical Judgement. Canadian Psychology, 58, 218-227. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000115
• Schroeder, M., Makarenko, E., & Warren, K. (2019). Introducing a late bank in online graduate courses: The response of students. Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 10(2), 14. https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2019.2.8200

Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976), the Queen of Mystery, overcame learning disabilities to become the best-selling novelist of all time. Christie struggled with dysgraphia, affecting her ability to write by hand. To circumvent this, she dictated her novels to a typist or recorded them, ensuring her stories were captured without the physical strain of writing . Despite her challenges, Christie developed a passion for storytelling, nurtured by her mother.

She created iconic characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, becoming a cornerstone of detective fiction. Her career includes 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections . In 1926, Christie’s personal life faced turmoil when she disappeared for 11 days following her mother’s death and her husband’s infidelity.

This period highlighted her resilience as she returned to writing with renewed determination . During World War II, Christie worked in hospital dispensaries, gaining knowledge of poisons that enriched her novels. Her meticulous attention to detail showcased her adaptability and dedication . Christie’s legacy is one of perseverance. Her works have sold over two billion copies, inspiring millions and proving that learning disabilities are no barrier to achieving greatness .

Sources

• https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/historians-miscellaneous-biographies/agatha-christie.
• https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie

“We distributed “Born to Be Me” to grade 6 and 7 families forparents and kids to read the testimonials and experiences of Canadians with Disabilities. The book can help individuals with their ownself-perception, esteem and confidence”.Simon Williams, Executive Co-Director, Foothills Academy Society

Click Here to Purchase

Despite progress, obtaining necessary services and tools for education remains a struggle for parents and young adults with learning disabilities. Working adults also face difficulties revealing their LD for fear of negative consequences.

• Advocate for policies and programs that promote inclusion and accessibility for people with learning disabilities
• Conduct research and disseminate knowledge on learning disabilities issues and solutions
• Educate and train parents, teachers, employers, and professionals on how to support people with learning disabilities
• Provide services and resources to individuals and families affected by learning disabilities

LDAC, where together, we can make a difference!

Sincerely,
The LDAC Team