State Conference

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Partners

We collaborate and partner with individuals and organizations who have similar missions, visions and concerns.

Alaina Bertsch of Mt. Vernon, South Dakota is Miss Teen International 2012. Her Platform is Dyslexia Awareness.

Bertsch is carrying forward the platform she championed as Miss Teen South Dakota 2011.

You can learn more about her and her work by visiting Alaina Bertsch on her website.

Resources for Parents and Students

Dakota Link - Helping individuals of all ages be as independent as possible by applying Assistive Technology solutions to Life's limitations. www.dakotalink.net, 1-800-645-0673.

South Dakota Advocacy Services - A private non-profit organization designated by the Governor to protect the rights of people with disabilities in South Dakota. www.sdadvocacy.com, 1-800-658-4782, Voice/TDD.

Transition Services Liaison Project - Mission: to enable students with disabilities to reach their maximum potential in their transition from high school to the adult world. www.tslp.org, 1-605-224-5336.

Learning Disabilities Association of America - Represents the needs and interests of children and adults with learning disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. www.LDAamerica.org
1-888-300-6710

Parent Connection - Resources for families of children with disabilities: A Resource Center, Parent Training
and Information Center, Navigator Program, and Family to Family Health Care Information Center. www.sdparent.org, 1-800-640-4553.

South Dakota Parent Information and Resource Center - Provides a varied array of direct training and information resources designed to support parents in their active and effective involvement in their children's education. www.sdpirc.org 1-800-219-6247.

South Dakota Office of Special Education - Promotes collaboration among parents, educators, students, community and other agencies to make available the full range of personnel, programming, and placement options, including early intervention and transition services, required to assure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education. http://doe.sd.gov/oess/sped.asp 605-773-3134.

Excel Achievement Center - Located in Sioux Falls, has been working with children and families across the state of South Dakota for over 5 years. Their statewide teacher training for dyslexia intervention has been making a dramatic difference in the reading outcomes of schools across the state. More information can be found at:
http://www.excelachievement.com/ or 605-988-0900. Email the center directly at Stephanie@letslearnnow.com.

Different Types of Learning Disabilities

"Learning Disabilities" is an "umbrella" term describing a number of other, more specific learning disabilities.

Dyslexia - A language and reading disability.

Dyscalculia - Problems with arithmetic and math concepts.

Dysgraphia - A writing disorder resulting in illegibility.

Dyspraxia (Sensory Integration Disorder) - Problems with motor coordination.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder - Difficulty processing remembering language-related tasks.

Non-verbal Learning Disorder - Trouble with nonverbal cues, i.g., body language, poor coordination, clumsy.

Visual Perceptual - Visual Motor Deficit - Reverses letters, cannot copy accurately, eyes hurt and itch, loses place, struggles with cutting.

Language Disorders (Aphasia, Dysphasia) - Trouble understanding spoken language, poor reading comprehension.

Symptoms

The symptoms of learning disabilities are a diverse set of characteristics, which affect development and achievement. Some of these symptoms can be found in all children at some time during their development. However, a person with learning disabilities has a cluster of these symptoms, which do not disappear, as the person grows older.

Most Frequently Displayed Symptoms

• Short attention span
• Poor memory
• Difficulty following directions
• Inability to discriminate between/among letters, numerals, or sounds
• Poor reading and/or writing ability
• Eye-hand coordination problems; poorly coordinated
• Difficulties with sequencing
• Disorganization and other sensory difficulties

Other Characteristics That May Be Present

• Performs differently from day to day
• Responds inappropriately in many instances
• Distractible, restless, impulsive
• Says one thing, means another
• Difficult to discipline
• Does not adjust well to change
• Difficulty listening and remembering
• Difficulty telling time and knowing right from left
• Difficulty sounding out words
• Reverses letters
• Places letters in incorrect sequence
• Difficulty understanding words or concepts
• Delayed speech development; immature speech

Additional information is available on the Learning Disabilities Association website at www.ldaamerica.org

About the Learning Disabilities Association of South Dakota

The Learning Disabilities Association of South Dakota was incorporated in May 1996. Since then, it has grown from its original Rapid City location to points across the state. In May 1998, the Association received its 501 (c) 3 non-profit status from the IRS.

The Association conducts workshops and conferences, assists local communities in forming local branches, collaborates with other organizations with similar missions and concerns, and provides one-on-one assistance to individuals and families. Most visible among its efforts is the Association's statewide annual conference. 

The strength of this Association is found in the commitment and dedication of parents, persons with learning disabilities, educators and other professionals who offer their time, energy and experience. This wealth of caring enables LDA-SD to offer workshops, conferences, special projects and individual assistance throughout the state of South Dakota.

Our Mission and Vision Statements

Mission: To create opportunities for success for all individuals affected by learning disabilities and to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations.
 

Vision: Dedicated to a world in which

• All individuals with learning disabilities are empowered to thrive and participate fully in society
• The incidence of learning disabilities is reduced; and
• Learning disabilities are universally understood and effectively addressed