The Learning Disabilities Association of PEI is pleased to offer an Island-wide accessible service for PEI caregivers, Strategies for Caregivers: Coping with Learning Disabilities and ADD/ADHD. This program has been created in compassionate response to the needs of the many PEI parents and caregivers of children and/or adults with learning disabilities and ADHD who tirelessly support and love their children through many challenging experiences at school, at home or in the community.

A natural reaction for caregivers when their child has been diagnosed with a learning disability and/or ADHD includes the need to ask questions, to communicate concerns, to face fears, to determine options and to figure out how to appropriately handle a variety of stressful situations related to their child's learning disability. Current research validates that parents of children with learning disabilities consistently report high levels of parenting stress as compared to parents of children without learning disabilities.

Our goal within the Strategies for Caregivers Program is strengthening caregivers’ abilities and skills in coping with how a learning disability affects their child and their family as a whole. The program offers support through providing information and educational resources; personalized support services; practical strategies for coping with stress; solution-focused planning, and; facilitating access to community services and resources. This service is confidential, individualized and at no cost to caregivers.

If you would like more information about the Strategies for Caregivers Program or if you would like to book an appointment to see how we can best meet your individual needs, please contact Marilyn Balderston, Program Counsellor at (902) 621-2229 or by email at marilynldapei@eastlink.ca and for your convenience, day and evening appointments are available.

The Tutoring Assistance Program (TAP) is a United Way funded project sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of PEI. The TAP program offers children suspected of or diagnosed with a learning disability and/or ADHD the opportunity to receive one-on-one tutoring from a certified teacher for once a week for twenty weeks.  TAP is a homework-based program that provides the opportunity to explore and utilize Assistive Technology according to individual needs.  The last tutoring session will be for parents.  The Tutoring Program Coordinator will provide helpful strategies that worked well for each child’s specific needs.

Tutoring Assistance Program Participation Criteria:

• Diagnosed with a Learning Disability and/or ADHD;
• If suspected of having a Learning Disability and/or ADHD, the child must be placed on the waiting list for a Psycho-Educational Assessment at the School Board Level or waiting to see a Private Psychologist for a Psycho-Educational Assessment.

The Tutoring Assistance Program will keep a waiting list for those who meet the participation criteria on a ‘first come first serve’ basis.

The program fee is $100.00 and is collected at the beginning of the program.  The tutoring fee can be claimed on income tax with a diagnosis of a learning disability and/or ADHD.

Amanda Coulson, the Tutoring Assistance Coordinator, can be contacted for further information by phone at (902) 894-5032 or by email at amandaldapei@eastlink.ca.

LDAPEI works to encourage and advocate for literacy, improved education, health, and employment opportunities for all learning disabled Islanders by providing educational and employment information, resources, counseling, and support for learning disabilities.

LDAPEI has books and videos on learning disabilities and ADHD in their resource library, including a new collection of children’s books.

LDAPEI organizes educational workshops, support groups, and public awareness presentations.

LDAPEI has worked on the Provincial Joint Working Group with the Departments of Health and Social Services, Education, and the Office of the Attorney General to create the strategy  "Recommendations for Services for Islanders with Learning Disabilities".

Our staff is available to meet and speak with children, parents and adults, who are experiencing frustration and anxiety in their lives, due to LD. We answer questions regarding available services in the area and refer people to the proper source. Our office receives a high volume of support calls each month.

We also provide Adaptive Technology Demonstrations to children, parents, and teachers.  Our office has two adaptive technology stations with the software, Kurzweil and Dragon Naturally Speaking.  Please contact our office for a time to see this amazing technology.

Kurzweil 3000 - a reading application that allows the user to view a scanned document (books, articles, etc…) on the computer screen while listening to the text being read aloud.

Dragon Naturally Speaking - is voice recognition software that enables users to use Speech-to-Print technology to dictate work.

These Adaptive Technology Stations were made possible with the support of Microcomputer Science Centre Inc., Aliant, and the Royal Bank of Canada

LDAPEI advocates for all Islanders with Learning Disabilities by supplying current information about learning disabilities to various individuals, community groups and government departments. Our office at this time is unable to handle the demand for staff to go off-site for individual advocacy cases (i.e attend school meetings), but LDAPEI will attempt to supply you with the needed information to help support you in making the best decisions possible for you and your family to achieve positive results.  For more information on advocacy, go to http://www.ldac-taac.ca/InDepth/inDepth-e.asp#advocacy2