As a nonprofit charitable organization that has supported children and youth with suspected or diagnosed learning differences for over 50 years, the Learning Disabilities Society (LDS) offers accessible, comprehensive and expert learning and related supports for students aged 3 through adult.
Transforming lives through learning
PROVEN ACHIEVEMENT and IMPACT
LDS students catch up to their peers ¼ to ½ grade level per year (1)
LDS transforms student self-esteem, confidence and aspiration (2)
LDS supports students through their full development cycle (3)
- preschool
- elementary school
- secondary school
- post-secondary
¹M. Sager, LDS Internal Report, 2020
²LDS Project Impact Report: Unlocking the Potential in Children with Learning Disabilities, 2018
³LDS Early RISErs; RISE; RISE Now
Transforming lives through learning
BEST IN CLASS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
16 Technology Company Sponsors
Microsoft, SAP, Pyxera, SMART Technologies, Texthelp, MeisterLabs, Beeline Reader, FrontRow, Grammarly, Livescribe, Scanning Pens, Lexilife, InteraXon, BrainCo, Harkla, Osmo, LIVEIT
Transforming lives through learning
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING SUPPORT IN CANADA
16+ EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL PROGRAMS FROM AGES 3 ThROUGH ADULT
- RISE at LC: 1-to-1 RISE instruction at our East Van & North Vancouver learning centres
- RISE at School: 1-to-1 RISE instruction provided in Greater Vancouver schools
- RISE at Home: 1-to-1 RISE instruction anywhere via our adaptive online platform
- SLP: LDS speech language pathologist providing customized support
- Psychoeducational assessments: referrals to UBC PSCTC
- RISE after School: high school and elementary student peer mentorship
- RISE-AT: providing access to assistive technology hardware and software tools
- PEERS Social Skills: UCLA evidence-based social emotional skills training
- LDS Family Coaching: LDS trained coaches providing support strategies/tools
- RISE Now: RISE programming focused on practical skills for 18+ years
- RISE Camps: creative theme based camps focused on skills development and fun
- RISE TEAM: remedial instruction + pre-employment workshops and training
- RISE Assistive Robotics: socially assistive robot enhanced learning
- LDS Access: LDS mobile classroom bringing instruction directly to community
- Early RISErs: language acquisition, literacy, STEM, SLP, AT support for 3-5 years
- RISE Intensive Intervention: 40+ condensed hours of custom remedial support in maths and language
Transforming lives through learning
ACCESSIBLE and INCLUSIVE SUPPORT
Bursary Fund
We support students regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
LDS Access Mobile Classroom
Bringing learning directly to neighbourhoods where it is needed (launch coming summer 2021!).
Keeping students with their peers
We believe in keeping students with their peers and work hard to provide support outside of school hours, or in discrete pull-out support via RISE at School.
Transforming lives through learning
PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Academic Partners
UBC Faculty of Education
UBC Psychological Services and Counselling Training Centre
University of Waterloo Social and Intelligent Robotics Research Lab
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital PEARLab
Community Partners
Vancouver Public Library
Stigma Free Society
Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School
Play Roly
Financial Partners
Social Venture Partners Vancouver
Vancity
CIBC Miracle Day
Transforming lives through learning
MEET OUR LEADERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Jennifer Fane, Ph.D.
Jennifer Fane, Ph.D., Director of Education. Jenn is co-author of 1 book, 2 book chapters and 15 peer-reviewed journal articles relating to childhood education. She is also the winner of a national teaching award, the Australian Awards for University Teaching – Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
Melissa Sager, MA
Melissa Sager, Associate Director Learning Support. In addition to her Masters in Education, Melissa has 15 years remedial instruction and program management experience; founder of a multidisciplinary special education school.
Nancy Perry, Ph.D.
Nancy Perry, Ph.D., Education Committee Chair. Nancy is a UBC Professor and the Dorothy Lam Chair in Special Education, co-author of 3 books, chapters in 18 books, over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, editor of 6 journals, and recipient of numerous teaching and scholarship awards of distinction.
Learning Support and Case Managers with degrees in speech sciences (UBC), Global Development (Queen’s University), Linguistics (University of Edinburgh), Biomedical Engineering (MASc University of Toronto)
24+ specialized instructors including BC certified teachers, special education assistants, Orton-Gillingham certified instructors, speech-language pathologists and experienced inclusive education instructors
Read more on our Meet the LDS Team page.
Get in touch. Get involved.
info [at] ldsociety [dot] ca
604.873.8139
Our typical hours are 9:00am to 7:30pm, Monday to Saturday
Our work takes place on the unceded, occupied, ancestral and traditional lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.