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$600,000 OTF GRANT HELPS STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES

An investment announced on January 20th, 2016 will provide greater access to resources and supports across the north for families and educators of students who face challenges with learning. Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault offered hi congratulations to those involved with the Northern Ontario Centre for Learning Differences (NOCLD) on receiving a three-year, $600,000 Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).  Along with Niilo Saari, a volunteer with OTF, MPP Thibeault met with representatives to hear how this newly established organization will increase the reach of existing programs and services being provided by the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury (LDAS).

The three-year Grow grant is part of OTF’s new Investment Strategy and will enable the NOCLD to expand the LDAS mandate to other communities in Northeastern Ontario. Funds from the grant are being used to hire an Executive Director, Resource Facilitators, and will also help with the costs associated with hosting workshops, in addition to administrative costs.

“This is terrific news for Sudbury and Northern Ontario.  After meeting with representatives, I was impressed with their innovative approach and realized how this learning centre will expand services for the LDAS.  It’s programs such as this one that the Ontario Trillium Foundation is proud to support.”- Glenn Thibeault, MPP for Sudbury

“We are very excited about the announcement and thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their investment in our centre,” said Mary-Liz Warwick, Interim Executive Director of the NOCLD.  “This funding will allow our organization to reach more students and make a greater impact across the north.”

“This really is an important milestone in supporting children and youth with learning differences across northern Ontario,” stated Ron Lessard, Executive Director of the LDAS.  “This funding will enable us to share and replicate our one-on-one and group supports to reach parents directly and build their capacity to improve their children’s emotional and social skills. Families across northeastern Ontario will benefit knowing they are not alone.”

“Our organization offers resource and advocacy support to parents and students, hosts workshops and runs a coaching program for students in grades 7 and 8, just to name a few,” said Liz Brett-Dickie, Chair of the LDAS Board. “It’s very exciting to know that with the help of the NOCLD, more people will have access to these important support programs.”

The head office of the NOLCD will be housed out of Huntington University in Greater Sudbury, with satellite offices being established in North Bay, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie in the coming months.

“Huntington University is proud to partner with the NOLCD.  Every student has the right to an education and the right to learn in a way that best suits their learning style,” said Dr. Kevin McCormick, President and Vice-Chancellor of Huntington University and Chair of the NOCLD Board.  “We are proud to partner with this new organization, and look forward to the student success that will result from the work of the NOCLD.”

A leading grantmaking foundation in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities.  For more information, please visit: www.otf.ca

 

Parent Support Group

 

The Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury in partnership with Dr. Todd Cunningham, C.Psych., Clinical and School Psychologist, University of Toronto, is pleased to announce the launch of our We Are Not Alone program. This is a monthly evening program for a limited number of parents across the North to be connected through a University of Toronto Vidyo Internet connection to get information, share best practices and support each other.

Many families of a child with a learning disability find their journey to be a lonely one. Connecting with other families, agencies and professionals can be a challenge and it can be an even bigger challenge to those living in Northern Ontario communities. This project is designed to support parents by connecting them with others on the same journey.

 

The 1st of four sessions was held on January 20th, 2016 from 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. Participants of the session walked away with new ideas that can be used to support their child with a learning disability.

 

The next three sessions will take place on February 17th, April 20th and May 18th, 2016. There is still time to join! Participants should be parents of recently identified students (preferably grades 4 through 7) with a learning disability. The remaining sessions will take place via video conferencing at common meeting places in communities across the North.

 

If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary-Liz Warwick, LDAS Regional Business Development Coordinator, at maryliz@ldasudbury.ca.