The LDRC Project (Learning Disabilities Resource Community) is a virtual information community created to benefit all individuals affected by learning disabilities either as an individual with LD, a parent, teacher, researcher, other professionals or a concerned community member. It is a place to gain knowledge about learning disabilities, discover new teaching and educational tools, share information and experiences, and contribute to a greater understanding of Learning Disabilities.
The LDRC has just reached its first birthday. We would like to hear from you regarding your experiences using the web site. Tell us what you liked, what you found useful and what you think we need to change or add to the site to make it more valuable. Let us know how we are doing. Take the LDRC survey.
Informed Consumer’s Guide, a series geared at providing information that will help readers become better consumers of services purporting to help children and young people with learning disabilities. The most recent article in the series looks at research that suggests that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency may be related to learning disabilities. Much of the research linking polyunsaturated fatty acids and learning disabilities is preliminary, though conclusions made, and promotion of treatments, often do not reflect this fact. This article looks at misrepresentations of research, and the negative effects those representations can have on potentially promising treatments. The first article in the Informed Consumer series looked at cautions that should be considered when choosing an intervention, and how to determine if the research supporting an intervention is in fact sound research.
The Sternberg–Wagner Thinking Styles Inventory has been added to the site. This inventory can be used to learn about your own thinking styles and is one of 4 components of the new LDRC Learning Awareness Series. The Learning Awareness series is a series of online exercises intended to help learners understand the processes of learning, and to equip themselves with learning skills they can carry with them throughout their lifetimes.
The next Pathways conference will be held in Sudbury, Ontario on October 25 and 26th, 2002. To find out more about the conference or about registration procedures, visit the LDRC Events listing
The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto will be conducting a usability study of the New Barrier-Free Broadband Multimedia Player. This study begins June 10th. Subjects are currently being recruited for this study. If you meet the required criteria (see www.ldrc.ca for more details) then please contact us.
The traffic on the LDRC site has reached an all time high. We have had record-breaking hits reaching over 18 million since the site was first launched in September 2001-- indicative of our growing community members. Visit the LDRC site to learn more about and view our Access Watch Analysis.
Accessing the latest health and science related news has now been made easier. The LDRC will feature links to the most recent articles provided by the Globe and Mail.
All LDRC members—including those who became members before April 2002 when this feature was put in place-- have now been added to the LDRC listserv. This feature is aimed at simplifying communication between community members and will allow you to keep up on discussion related to learning disabilities and education. If you would like to unsubscribe: visit the LDRC site, select Community and then choose the Boards option.
The LDRC is now offering economical advertising space for those who wish to market an LD related product or service. Proceeds from LDRC banner advertising will help us recover the costs associated with maintaining the LDRC site and keeping the information on the site up to date. If you have a product or service that would benefit the learning disabilities community, please visit the LDRC advertising page for more information about creating an instant advertisers account, and displaying your banners on our site.
Can you contribute to the public understanding of LD? Do you have LD related knowledge, expertise, materials, curriculum or personal experiences that can help learners with LD better adapt, develop skills, and allow them to become productive members of their communities? Visit the LDRC site and learn more about how you can become involved!