NCLD’s toolkit supports parents of students with learning difficulties during Covid-19

The Covid-19 lockdown has plunged many families into a difficult situation. As well as supporting their children’s schooling at home, parents are also balancing work and other responsibilities. Families of students with learning and attention issues often feel these challenges acutely as they try to provide specialised instruction and support.

As Governors and states make decisions on what to support, it is important that the voices of parents and advocates of students with disabilities, as well as other marginalised groups of students, be heard. This is essential to ensure that students with disabilities remain a priority in the decision-making process.

In June, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) and several national partners released a set of recommendations to guide how funding can prioritise equity in the United States’ state and district response to Covid-19. NCLD’s  advocacy toolkit explains: the key issues that decision makers should focus on; questions that parents can ask; and ideas they can share.

Using the recommendations in this toolkit, parents can encourage decision makers in their state and school district to use funding and resources in ways that will address the needs of students with disabilities. Issues that parents can advocate for include:

• ensuring equitable funding so students whose needs have gone unmet will receive the appropriate supports and services;
• meeting the needs of the whole child, including physical, mental, and emotional needs during this traumatic time;
• improving distance learning so students can stay connected and receive high-quality learning experiences even when they’re not in a traditional classroom;
• assessing and accelerating learning to determine how much education students have missed out on and help them get back on track; and
• facilitating the transition from high school to college or career to ensure that students are not denied opportunities for success after high school.

This work is part of our Learning Differences Programme’s grant-making, which believes that together we can build a world in which schools unlock the creativity and power of every young person and equip them to shape more just and equitable communities. To find out more, check out our website.