Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc.

The LVA Learning Disabilities Initiative

Estimates range that between 50 and 80 percent of adults who seek assistance from volunteer literacy programs may have undiagnosed learning disabilities. Recognizing that our programs need better tools and techniques to serve the special needs of this population, LVA is seeking opportunities to develop and disseminate cutting-edge resources to our network. At present, LVA is the joint recipient of a grant from the federally-funded National Institute for Literacy to develop a training and dissemination strategy for its guidebooks, which address programmatic and instructional changes to better serve adults with learning disabilities. Our goal is to effectuate systemic change in the volunteer literacy sector so that all services reflect a basic understanding of the nature of learning disabilities and all volunteer programs have at their disposal the best strategies for assisting those who may have them. Visit the following links for more information on the LVA learning disabilities initiative:

LVA Statement on Learning Disabilities
Learning Disabilities Training and Dissemination Project Hub Description
Learning Disabilities Resource Links (LVA Affiliates Only)
LD Resources and Information (LVA Affiliates Only)
Excerpts from Bridges to Practice: A Research-based Guide for Literacy Practitioners Serving Adults with Learning Disabilities
Volunteer-based Literacy Programs' Roles in Serving Adults with Learning Disabilities (PDF file - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
A Self-Study for Literacy Programs Engaged in Systemic Change, based on Bridges to Practice and the Indicators of High-Quality Service for Adults with Learning Disabilities (RTF file - will open in any word-processing program for viewing and printing.)
Building and Maintaining Community Collaborations: A Professional Development Session for Bridges to Practice
Learning Disabilities and Legal Issues: Background Information for Volunteer Adult Literacy Programs