
Possible Signs of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a common learning disability among students in Canada. If you have concerns about a student or your child, take a few minutes to reflect on your child’s learning with these checklists.
Learn MoreIf you are a new or returning family to LDS, access information about fees, the academic year schedule, policies and procedures and links to our online lesson portal.
We are so glad you are a part of the LDS community. This page will resource you throughout the year with the following:
We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with the LDS community. If you have questions that you can not find answers to below, please get in touch with our team at info@ldsociety.
NewsletterTeachworks is the scheduling and invoicing platform you use to access lessons, session snapshots, mid and end-of-year reporting, and invoices.
Log in to TeachworksOur household income sliding scale is outlined below for the 2023/24 academic school year. The image below shows the cost for students who attend two sessions a week in RISE One-to-one, RISE Now, RISE at Home, and RISE at School. (For students attending one session a week, halve the costs below.)
Click on the link below to learn about how we set our fees and sliding scale.
LDS’ fees are covered by a combination of:
We require families, where eligible, to apply for funding through individual grants to help cover the cost of their sessions. The funds from these grants ensure our internal bursary can go further and support more families.
If you’re not eligible to apply for the grants but you’re accessing our sliding scale, your fee rate is subsidized solely by LDS’ internal bursary. We raise these funds through non-governmental grants and fundraising. You’re not required to do anything else to access the fee level, but we strongly encourage you to engage with and amplify our fundraising efforts.
Learn more about grant funding to fund LDS’ services.
See our FAQs below to learn more about fees. Please also refer to our policies and procedures above.
If your question is still not answered, please contact us.
LDS students receive one-to-one instruction virtually and in person. Please refer to the Online Session Guide and be set up for success with LDS’ online learning platform. It includes instructions on preparing for a session, support for troubleshooting during a session and related support after a session.
Online Session GuideFor students to get the maximum benefit from the support they receive, continuity of service is key. LDS does not follow local school’s Professional Development (PD) days, so please consult our calendar for LDS-wide schedule updates.
Online Calendar Download CalendarThis policy addendum is in place of the attendance policy section of our program policies. It applies to our summer programs 2023, including RISE and Shine, Academic Intensive, Summer School Success, Summer Camps and Tutoring (online or some limited in-person spots).
Our programs are offered in our East Vancouver locations (Learning Centre or LDS Access). If your child is sick, we require that you keep them home to avoid spreading germs and creating further service disruption. We will do our best to provide an online alternative, but we cannot guarantee the possibility of this (e.g. social programming for camps and the afternoons of RISE and Shine cannot be moved online).
We cannot offer refunds or take-home study packages for missed days or hours of programming. If an instructor cannot attend a session, we will do our best to provide a substitute instructor. If we are unable to run the session or program, we will inform the family as soon as possible. The family will be reimbursed appropriately and on a prorated scale at the discretion of the Executive Director.
Other sections of LDS program policies continue to apply, including exceptions that may be granted in extenuating circumstances.
All programs at LDS start with an application so we can ensure a great fit between learners and instructors, and programs. An application does not guarantee a placement; it does start a thorough individualized intake process:
Because our instructor’s schedules are full and set for the year, we typically need to cancel the session and credit you the amount you would have paid.
In some circumstances, we may be able to offer a make-up session at an alternate agreed-upon date and time.
Structured, regular and repetitive academic interventions are critical to helping students with learning disabilities thrive. Continuity of service and regular exposure to the learning methods crafted for each student are crucial in ensuring maximum benefit is realized from our programs.
As with many other activities and specialized programs you may enroll in, we match you with a specific instructor who is best suited to work one-to-one with your child based on their learning needs. We plan our staffing and programming around commitments for the entire academic school year and require families to make that commitment too.
Please see this post for detailed information on how we aim to build fairness and equity into our fee structure. https://ldsociety.ca/2023-update-equity-fee-structure/
The calendar for the 2023-24 academic year, including statutory holidays, professional development days, and other breaks is live on our site. Access LDS calendar online or download a PDF calendar for the year on our Families page.
We’ve endeavoured to balance days and holidays throughout the year as best we can (challenging this year, given when some statutory holidays, as well as winter and spring breaks, fall) so that student session schedules even out throughout the year.
Monthly payments in September, March and June will be proportionally reduced to recognize start dates and the irregularity of the calendar in 2023-24 and ensure fees reflect that. Please note monthly payments are averaged throughout the school year to allow for predictable budgeting, they do not map to the actual number of sessions in any particular month.
Please know that LDS truly values every one of the students and families we serve. We do our best every day to ensure each student is receiving the highest quality, customized education support that responds to their needs and strengths. We have a small but mighty team of professionals working to serve hundreds of students and families and ensure everyone is treated with the respect and care they deserve. We also go to great lengths to keep our operations as efficient as possible.
If you have a comment, concern or constructive idea about LDS, you are encouraged to reach out to our Executive Director Rachel Forbes any time at ED@ldsociety.ca.
You can read the full digest of our policies including around attendance, behaviour, health, safety and more in the link below. This PDF will be updated as needed.
PoliciesJennifer and Donna share their son’s story, and how working with LDS helped him realize his potential and discover his superpowers.
Dyslexia is a common learning disability among students in Canada. If you have concerns about a student or your child, take a few minutes to reflect on your child’s learning with these checklists.
Learn MoreUnderstanding executive function skills and their impact on daily life is critical for personal growth and success. Learn about these challenges in adults and be equipped with the next step.
Learn MoreThis is part five in a five-part series on preparing for post-secondary education with a learning difference. This fifth part is about reading and understanding your course syllabi and connecting with your instructor(s).
Learn MoreLearn about Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and how best to support your child in the BC school system. Learn about helpful things to look for in your IEP and download questions to take to your child’s IEP meeting.
Learn MoreA summer bucket list is a great way to set and accomplish goals during the summer while encouraging quality time with your family. A bucket list can be customized to your own needs and interests. You can even set learning goals to prevent the summer slide!
Learn MoreThis is part four in a five-part series on preparing for post-secondary education with a learning difference. This fourth part is about making the best use of your program calendar and all the support resources your school provides.
Learn MoreThis is part three in a five-part series on preparing for post-secondary education with a learning difference. This third part gives you tools and tips to transition to your new schedule.
Learn MoreLearn about how you can foster allyships between autistic and neurotypical kids. Tips and resources for you to use with your family.
Learn MoreThis is part two in a five-part series on preparing for post-secondary education with a learning difference. This second part gives you tools and tips to register for your courses.
Learn MoreThis is part one in a five-part series on preparing for post-secondary education with a learning difference. This first part gives you the tools to get started with Accessibility Services at your school.
Learn MoreLearn about a suggested resource from LDS’ Becky Bishop. This post features a recommendation to use Minecraft Education.
Learn MoreADHD is among the most common neurodevelopmental differences in Canada. Learn about how sign language can be a tool to help ADHD learners visualize and process language.
Learn MoreA resource for parents or children that may struggle with time blindness. Learn how to support your child and reduce the likelihood that they will experience time blindness.
Learn MoreLearn more about preparation and strategies for neurodivergent adults to have the best opportunity to succeed in final exams.
Learn MoreThis overview of the British Columbia schooling system is a starting point for families exploring school options. Learn about Public Schools, Independent Schools and Private Schools.
Learn MoreGet outside and explore your neighbourhood with this downloadable spring treasure hunt for your family.
Learn MoreWhat are learning disabilities, and how are they diagnosed? Learn about learning disabilities and other developmental disabilities. LDS uses a strengths-based approach so, with the proper support, individuals with learning differences can thrive.
Learn MoreLearn more in this short article about EF skills and how LDS works with our learners and their families to support the ongoing development of EF skills.
Learn MoreADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a neurobehavioural disorder characterized by symptoms of inattentiveness, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Read an introductory overview of ADHD.
Learn MoreDyslexia is a learning difference that is neurobiological in nature, makes reading difficult, and may also interfere with recognizing, spelling, writing, and decoding words. Learn to spot the signs that your child may have dyslexia.
Learn MoreNavigating big transitions, such as starting highschool or a new school year, brings added challenges for young people who are neurodiverse, have ADHD, or experience learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. For these groups of young people, executive functioning skills often require extra support to develop in a resilient way.
Learn MoreThis post is dedicated to the most common questions and concerns we see and hear from families with young children, and the ways in which families are able to receive support for these challenges in our Early RISErs program.
Learn MoreRISE at Home provides expert, customized support to students with learning difference across Canada
Learn MoreNeed help finding useful educational resources for at-home online learning? Here are our favourites!
Learn MoreLearn how a Registered Disabilities Savings Plan can help you prepare for your child’s future.
Learn More