Experts Speak About Dyslexia, ADHD in Concord

CONCORD, NH - Understood, an award-winning nonprofit resource for parents, hosted the Understanding the 1 in 5 forum on Jan. 20, 2016, at the University of New Hampshire School of Law in Concord.

The event featured opening remarks by New Hampshire’s State Director of Special Education, Santina Thibedeau. The event also featured a panel discussion of state and national experts, who provided insights and practical tips to help parents, educators and others understand and meet the needs of the 1 in 5 children in the U.S. who have learning and attention issues.

“I commend Understood for its commitment to raising awareness about learning and attention issues and am proud of the steps New Hampshire is taking to meet the needs of all students,” said Thibedeau, who is also a member of the board of directors of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. “Knowledge is power, andUnderstanding the 1 in 5 is helping New Hampshire’s parents and teachers give students with learning and attention issues the support they need to succeed,.

The forum, according to a press release, included powerful statistics and discussed persistent myths, underscoring the importance of raising awareness about the 1 in 5:

• In New Hampshire as many as 36,720 of the state’s 183,600 students in pre-K through grade 12 maystruggle with learning and attention issues, such as ADHD and dyslexia.
• Many children may quietly struggle and never be formally identified as having these brain-based issues, which can affect reading, writing, math, organization, concentration, listening comprehension, social skills, motor skills or a combination of these.
• These children are as smart as their peers, but too often the signs of learning and attention issues are misinterpreted as a lack of effort or intelligence.
• Nationwide, only 68 percent of students with learning disabilities leave high school with a regular diploma; 19 percent drop out. But with the right support, children with learning and attention issues can succeed in school and in life.

“Parents and teachers can do so much when they have the right resources, but too often they feel frustrated and alone as they start to navigate this journey,” said Mary Schuh, who moderated the panel discussion and is a professor of education at the University of New Hampshire and director of development and consumer affairs at UNH’s Institute on Disability. “I love the way Understood is bringing parents and teachers together, not just online but also in local communities, and helping them find academic, social and emotional supports so students can thrive in their neighborhood schools and general education classrooms and achieve positive outcomes like going to college and having meaningful careers.”

Forum attendees were given toolkits to help them advocate for children with learning and attention issues and unlock strengths so these kids can reach their full potential.

Recent changes in federal and state law were also discussed at the forum. “There are several ways we can steer public policy to support children with learning and attention issues,” said Kim Hymes, associate director of federal outreach for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. “This includes expanding early screening, empowering students and families, cultivating creative and informed educators, promoting personalized learning and strengthening and enforcing civil rights laws.”

“I am proud to be joining the Understood movement,” said Robin deAlmeida, marketing and outreach coordinator for New Hampshire Family Voices and a member of Understood’s New Hampshire Advisory Committee. “Empowering parents is the key to ensuring that all kids, whether they’ve been formally diagnosed or not, get the support they need to succeed.”

The forum in New Hampshire is part of a series Understood is hosting. The first event was in Iowa earlier this month and the next two will be in South Carolina and Nevada in February.

“Understood is committed to raising public awareness about the 1 in 5 children who have a learning or attention issue. That is why we have launched this effort to host a dialogue between experts, parents and educators across the country at these events,” said Kevin Hager, managing director of Understood.