Learn. Develop. Succeed.
Individualized, accessible support for all of life’s learners.
Our Mission and Values
LDS – Learn. Develop. Succeed.* is a nonprofit charity and our mission is to empower all children, youth, and adults with learning differences to recognize their unique strengths and develop the tools to achieve lifelong independence, confidence, and success.
We are driven by and committed to the following core values: community, kindness, acceptance, and achievement.
* our legal name is Learning Disabilities Society
Our Vision
We believe that all children should have access to the academic support they need to succeed.
We are focused on promoting community awareness and fostering a greater understanding of the issues and challenges faced by children with learning differences.
Through early intervention, our goal is to make a transformative difference in the learning and life outcomes of all learners.
Our ultimate goal is to effect systems change that leads to wide-ranging societal benefits.
Learn. Develop. Succeed.
Each person’s path is unique. Their learning support should be too.
Service Principles
We take pride in grounding our work with each student and family according to the following service provision principles:
Holistic
We develop customized learning plans and practice careful instructor matching for each unique student.
Individualized
We develop customized learning plans and practice careful instructor matching for each unique student.
Accessible + Inclusive
Our spaces and programming are designed to be inclusive and physically as well as financially accessible.
Technology Enhanced
We integrate assistive technologies into programs to empower students and enhance student learning and progress.
Integrated
We strive to complement and enhance students’ school experiences and empower children and families toward self-advocacy.
Our Education Partners
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UBC Faculty of Education
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University of Waterloo Social and Intelligent Robotics Research Lab
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UBC Psychological Services and Counselling Training Centre
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Our Team
LDS team members are experts in their fields, with degrees in Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Public Health, Neuro-Psychology, Applied Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Human Geography, Creative Writing, Communications, Mathematics, Global Development, English, Linguistics, Law, Biomedical Engineering and much more!
Meet Our Team
Career Opportunities
We are a growing and diverse group of inspired, fun, and caring professionals driven by the significant impacts we can facilitate in the lives of our learners, families, and communities we serve.
Explore CareersAnnual Reports
2023 Annual Report
2023 was another year of growing programs and outstanding achievements from our amazing students. Thank you to our expanding community of families, students, partners and supporters for a wonderful year of learning!
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2022 Annual Report
2022 was another year of growing programs and outstanding achievements from our amazing students. Thank you to our expanding community of families, students, partners and supporters for a wonderful year of learning!
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2021 Annual Report
Thanks to our growing community of families, students, partners and supporters, the year 2021 was filled with new and growing programs, outstanding achievements f rom our amazing students, and a lot of wonderful learning!
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LDS Annual Report 2020
Please see our 2020 Annual Report for an overview of our specialized programs, our students’ achievements and our charity’s progress, including highlights from 2021.
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LDS Annual Report 2019
Please see our 2019 Annual Report for an overview of our specialized programs, our students’ achievements and our charity’s progress, including highlights from 2020.
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LDS 2018 Annual Report
2018 was a groundbreaking year for LDS, as we lay the framework for future growth and sustainability. We are proud to be Vancouver’s primary non-profit service provider for children with Learning Disabilities.
Learn MoreIn the Press
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– Nearly 10% of BC’s population has a learning disorder, with many going undiagnosed until adulthood. Rachel Forbes, Executive Director at LDS, says many families face barriers to access diagnosis support.
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– BC Doesn’t Know How Kids with Dyslexia Are Doing in School. The province doesn’t track or specifically support students with the most common learning disability.
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– LDS’s Senior Manager, Communications, Sara Jane Walker, shares the importance of our low-barrier individualized support at our learning centres and on our mobile classroom, LDS Access, for Variety BC week.
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– Learn about a family’s transformative experience with LDS as their son with learning differences receives critical learning support on LDS Access. Thank you to Variety BC for spotlighting this story and continuing to support our specialized services.
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– Specialized online program for B.C. students with learning differences is invaluable. Learning Disabilities Society’s one-to-one instruction improves academics, confidence.
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– Adults with learning differences can meet their career, education or life goals. LDS provides expert support across B.C. with RISE Now program. **Please be advised that this PDF serves as a copy of Alaska Highway News content, as the original is no longer accessible online due to its closure.**
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– LDS’s Director of Education, Dr. Jenn Fane, weighs in on a video circulating on social media of a 12-year-old Indigenous boy with autism being handcuffed and restrained by Metro Vancouver Transit Police at BC Children’s Hospital.
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– Executive Director Rachel Forbes speaks to Stephen Quinn about Early RISERs, LDS’ new early education program that uses socially assisted robotic technology to help children ages 3-5 with learning challenges…
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– The Delta Optimist interviews LDS Executive Director Rachel Forbes about Early RISErs—LDS’ newest early learners program…
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– Global News Morning interviewed Rachel Forbes, Learning Disabilities Society Executive Director, who shared details of the Early RISErs program and the importance of early intervention…
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– CKNW Radio’s Morning with Simi show, spoke with LDS Executive Director Rachel Forbes about our newest program, Early RISErs. Visit our website to learn more and apply for Early RISErs…
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– The Vancouver Sun and Post Media highlight the importance of fundraising and Giving Tuesday for organizations big and small, including LDS. “LDS Executive director Rachel Forbes says…
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– Rogers Communication showcases its Ted Rogers Community Grant recipients, one of which is LDS. This grant will allow us to offer a second cohort of RISE TEAM, our youth employment readiness program…
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– Grant Hardy from AMI Media learns about LDS Access, our mobile classroom which travels around to communities in need to provide learning support for students with learning differences…
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– LDS interviews with CBC News showcasing LDS Access, Canada’s first mobile classroom along with LDS’s integrated assistive technologies and robotics…
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– CBC News reports that ‘It LDS Access makes learning a special place.” Learn more about the program by reading the full article here…
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– Cole Schisler reports, “For many families, there are significant barriers to accessing programs for children with learning differences. A Vancouver-based advocacy group is putting…
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– Global News Morning host Paul Haysom spoke with LDS Director of Education Dr. Jennifer Fane about LDS Access, Canada’s first electric mobile classroom…
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– Dr. Jennifer Fane, LDS’s Director of Education spoke about LDS Access with CTV about our mobile classroom outreach service that provides our RISE learning support and Assistive…
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– Jill Bennett from 980 CKNW Radio interviews LDS Director of Education, Jennifer Fane PhD about LDS Access our mobile classroom outreach service that provides…
Learn More– Mornings with Simi interviewed LDS Director of Education, Jennifer Fane PhD about LDS Access our mobile classroom outreach service that provides our RISE learning…
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– Jennifer Thuncher reports about LDS Access. Click to read the whole story from The Squamish Chief…
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– Aaron Hinks reports about LDS Access. Click to read the whole story from Surrey Now-Leader…
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– “The bus will visit LDS students in hard-to-reach communities throughout Metro Vancouver, including Surrey,” Aaron Hinks reports about LDS Access…
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– Rebecca Bollwitt author of Miss604, writes about the importance of LDS’s new mobile outreach program, LDS Access…
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– Global News Morning BC interviews LDS’s Director of Education Dr. Jennifer Fane about LDS’s RISE at Home, a remote remedial learning program that is now available BC-wide…
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– Fraser Valley News interviews LDS’s Director of Education Dr. Jennifer Fane about LDS’s RISE at Home program that is now available BC wide…
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– Kitsilano.ca highlights our Covid Catch-up Fund helping kids across BC with learning differences who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic…
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– Our Executive Director, Rachel Forbes, was interviewed by Global News on how the pandemic has reduced our ability to raise funds while increasing the need for our services…
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– Global News featured LDS as part of its Month of Giving Back. In this feature, our Executive Director Rachel Forbes speaks about our mission and our efforts to continually…
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– The Vancouver Sun profiles LDS’s new assistive technology programs to help keep high quality research-based learning supports accessible for all children with learning differences…
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– RISE TEAM at LDS received a grant to increase accessibility and community inclusion, from the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction…
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– CBC News in British Columbia includes our summer camps in their list of recommended camps with improved hygiene protocols for COVID-19…
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– The Georgia Straight profiles LDS’s RISE at Home remote learning program, and invites families to apply for the service…
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– The BC Catholic writes about the challenges of online learning for students with learning differences, and highlights how RISE at Home is helping students…
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– PIQUE magazine lists LDS as an online learning resource for children with learning challenges…
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– Rachel S. Forbes’ OpEd was published in the Province, discussing how we all need to support vulnerable learners during COVID-19…
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– Article written by Howard Wu. RISE at Home is listed as one of the valuable resources for families during the COVID-10 Pandemic…
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– Mornings with Simi Sara on CKNW News Radio interviewed our Executive Director Rachel Forbes about the launch of RISE at Home…
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– Our Executive Director Rachel Forbes spoke with CTV Vancouver about our new online learning tool RISE at Home for at-home learning. We were able to adapt and launch this program…
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– Diane Strandberg reports on how we are offering RISE at Home to help children while they’re away from the classroom…
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– Richard Zussman speaks with our Executive Director Rachel Forbes on Global News Vancouver, highlighting our RISE at Home online, dynamic…
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