• LDA's mission is to create opportunities for success for all individuals affected by learning disabilities and to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations.

  In March of 1963, parents of children with learning disabilities representing local support groups from around the country gathered in Chicago for a national conference. These concerned families organized into a national organization which was incorporated in 1964 as the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (ACLD). From those beginnings, the Learning Disabilities Association of America has grown to serve tens of thousands of members with learning disabilities, their families and the professionals who work with them.

  Today, LDA is the largest non-profit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities and has over 200 state and local affiliates in 42 states and Puerto Rico. LDA's international membership of over 40,000 includes members from 27 countries around the world.

  The membership, composed of individuals with learning disabilities, family members and concerned professionals, advocates for the almost three million students of school age with learning disabilities and for adults affected with learning disabilities.

  The state and local affiliates, through their affiliation with the national LDA, work continuously for individuals with learning disabilities, their parents and the professionals who serve them.

Services

• Parent Support
  Being a member of LDA can be an enormous support to the parents of a child with a learning disability. When parents initially discover that their child has a learning disability, they may have feelings of guilt, worry, uncertainty, self-pity and anger. There may be a lack of knowledge as to what the problem really is. Parents look for help, they may receive conflicting advice and become more confused and frustrated. Understandably, they may develop anger towards the community, schools, professionals and themselves. Parents may even deny the problem or blame each other. An effective LDA affiliate can help parents understand and cope with their special child.
  
  
• Information and Referral Network
  An inquiry to the local affiliate, state office, or national LDA office may be a critical first step in providing help to a person with learning disabilities.
  
  Through its Annual International Conference as well as state affiliate conferences and workshops LDA provides a forum for questions on learning disabilities and new technology and approaches for teaching individuals with learning disabilities. Attendance at the conferences, workshops, symposiums and support groups reaches tens of thousands participants yearly. Parents, teachers and other professionals and individuals with learning disabilities are the participants that gather for education, networking, and advocacy.
  
  Its Bookstore maintains an extensive offering of books and materials covering every aspect of learning disabilities. These materials are ordered by schools, libraries and thousands of individuals with learning disabilities.
  
  The LDA publication, Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, is a quarterly peer-reviewed publication oriented toward professionals in the field of learning disabilities.
  
  
• Legislation
  LDA provides information and recommends action on pending legislation which may affect individuals with learning disabilities and/or their families. At the request of Congress, LDA representatives testify on matters relating to special education, literacy and employment programs. The organization holds and participates in numerous forums on legal rights of individuals with learning disabilities.
  
  
• School Program Development
  LDA and its state and local affiliates work with school systems to assure quality programs and better services for students with learning disabilities. LDA offers scholarships annually to school principals attending the International Conference. This service has provided some 300 principals with an ongoing network of information and support.
  
  LDA and its state affiliates frequently work directly with school systems in planning and implementing programs for early identification and diagnosis, as well as remediation in resource and special education classroom situations. Because of the relationship of learning disabilities to school drop-out and delinquency, the organization works with educators, correctional authorities and jurists in order to develop comprehensive approaches to education.
  
  
• Adult Issues
  LDA publishes materials on issues of important to adults with learning disabilities on adult literacy, parenting, and special populations. A special series of bulletins address civil rights and accommodations in various settings, including college, the workplace and the military. LDA sponsors Leadership Development Academies fostering self-advocacy among young adults, and its affiliates offer adult support groups.