Welcome to LD@LAB-- Great Minds Do Not Think Alike!

Do you have a child at LAB with a learning difference?

We are a group of parents that hope to learn from each other. Our goal is to improve the educational experience for all students at Lab, especially those with learning differences. Join us as we work together to make a difference for students who learn differently. Great minds don’t think alike!

●      Who is involved in LD @ LAB?

        ○      We are parents with children in the Lower, Middle and High Schools. Some of us are seasoned veterans and educated consumers while others of us are just embarking on this process.

●      How can I find out more?

        ○       Attend our next meeting

                 -       Wednesday October 4, at 7:00 p.m in Judd 126

 ○       Read the Fall 2006 Announcements

                -       April 4, 2006                       Program for college-bound students and families

                        ■      View Suzan Snook’s PowerPoint presentation on “Disability Services in the College Environment”

                        ■      View Patty Kovacs’ presentation on “College Planning for Students with Learning Disabilities”

                -         February 20, 2006                  Program on assistive technology

                        ■       View a PowerPoint presentation on assistive technology prepared by Sarah Imboden of Hyde Park Day School

                        ■       Browse the price list of selected assistive technology products

                -        November 29, 2005             Carla Young speaks on Schools Attuned

                -        November 1, 2005               Evening with Lab’s Learning Consultants

                -        September 14, 2005            Planning for the school year

                -        June 23, 2005                     Getting started, part 2

                -       May 2 and May 16, 2005      Getting started, part 1

        ○      Contact Julie Marie Lemon or Paula Worthington, LD@LAB co-chairs, for more information.

●      I have so many questions; will this group have the answers?

        ○      We intend to develop and post resource lists, FAQs, and the like. Here are a few items to get us started--remember, comments are always welcome!

                -       Check this list of resources

                -       Lab School Staff are listed here (page down to Learning and Counseling Services)

Thanks.....

.....to the Parents Association for hosting our page

.....to Irene Sherr, Lucy Gray, Paula Worthington, and others for their suggestions and input

First meeting of the fall: Wednesday October 4, at 7:00 p.m.,Judd 126 We have an opportunity to hear from Dr. Gayathri Krishna, an educator from Bangalore, India, who has extensive experience with dyslexia and other LD issues. Dr. Krishna established the Brindavan Educational Trust, which offers full and part time educational programs for students with a variety of LDs. She is presently assisting several other schools with teacher training, student assessments, and the like.

Opportunity to connect with other Hyde Park parents of LD/disabled students I am acquainted with someone who heads a group of Ray, Murray, and other local school parents of kids with varying types of disabilities. I would be happy to connect anyone directly with that group, and, if our group is interested, we can pursue the possibility of organizing some group programs or meetings where our interests and issues coincide.

The Evanston-based nonprofit, ASK (Answers for Special Kids, at http://www.answersforspecialkids.org/)
has posted their first fall newsletter, available at http://www.answersforspecialkids.org/pdf/ask_enews_090706.pdf .

The Handwriting Without Tears group is sponsoring workshops in the weeks ahead:
October 6-7 Chicago, IL
* Handwriting Without Tears Pre-K Workshop: October 6
* Handwriting Without Tears Printing & Cursive Workshop October 7
For further information, objectives, course outline, registration information, or a list of the 150 other scheduled HWT workshops go to the workshop page on our website http://ws.hwtears.com/category/8 , or contact our National Workshop Coordinators at 402-492-2766; kate@hwtears.com or kathyb@hwtears.com.

Important news and dates for prospective applicants to Chicago's public selective enrollment high schools: Eighth graders who are considering applying for admission to one of the city's selective enrollment or magnet high schools should check the CPS website for important dates and deadlines. If you start with the "Office of Academic Enhancement"/"Options for Knowledge" at http://cpsmagnet.org/index.jsp?rn=3696, you will see links to the selective enrollment high school info. Please note the following dates:

September 23, 2006: High School Fair, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, 2301 South King Drive- Hall C1 December 22, 2006: Selective Enrollment High School Application Form due; this must include an IEP with testing accommodations if the student is to receive accommodations for the admissions test (Please note: I believe that students currently NOT attending CPS can work with their local CPS school to enroll as a "nonattending student" and get the proper documentation/IEP needed. But I am not sure exactly how this works.....).
December and January: admissions tests administered
February: decision letters mailed

Alyse Siegel and Associates will be running workshops this fall on organization, time management, and study skills. There are separate workshops for middle and high school students. For more information, please contact "Great Mind Workshops" at (773) 472-0123, or email alyse.21stcentury@rcn.com.

Submitted by Paula Worthington