MISSION STATEMENT

Learning Disabilities Association of Maine is dedicated to assisting individuals with learning and attention disabilities through support, education, and advocacy.

VISION STATEMENT

LDA is dedicated to a world in which
• All individuals with learning and attention disabilities are empowered to thrive and participate fully in society;
• The incidence of learning and attention disabilities is reduced; and
• Learning and attention disabilities are universally understood and effectively addressed.

Since 1980, Maine indiviuals, families, schools, and community members have turned to LDA for their expertise and resources – most at no cost to the individual or family. LDA of Maine is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals with learning and attention disabilities and their families, to alleviating their restricting effects, and to supporting endeavors to determine the causes of learning and attention disabilities through advocacy, support, and education..

We do this by providing:
• Information about learning and attention disabilities through the post and on our web;
• Information about the special education law, and the Americans with Disabilities Act;
• Referrals to community and national resources, and community outreach;
• Direct individualized face-to-face, telephone, and e-mail consultation;
• On site and by mail lending resource media center with thousands of items for our members;
• Parent and Adult Leadership and Mentoring Groups;
• Professional development for schools, employers, and community providers;
• Parent Involvement assistance for schools aimed at increasing positive student outcomes.

Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a brain condition that makes it difficult to concentrate. A Learning Disability is a permanent neurological brain disorder, which affects the way individuals receive, store, organize, retrieve and use information. Both are disabilities you cannot see, but are very real. These disabilites are always hampering and often crippling to the individual who has not been able to read, write, and spell his own language in the course of his schooling. The problem is serious. Please check out the statistics below:

• AT LEAST 127,000 MAINE PEOPLE OR 10% OF OUR POPULATION HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES.
• 37% OF ALL STUDENTS IN MAINE SPECIAL EDUCATION HAVE SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES.
13,143 OF OUR CHILDREN AND THOUSANDS MORE HAVE ATTENTION DISABILITES.
• 30% WILL DROP OUT OF SCHOOL - TWICE THE RATE OF THEIR NON-DISABILED PEERS (THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT IDENTIFIED AND DROP OUT). ONLY 62% WILL GRADUATE WITH A DIPLOMA.
• 72% OF WILL BECOME JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.
• 60% OF ADOLESCENTS WILL SEEK DRUG TREATMENT.
• 31% OF TEENS WILL BE ARRESTED 3-5 YEARS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
• FEWER THAT 2% OUT OF SCHOOL MORE THAN ONE-YEAR ARE IN 4-YEAR COLLEGES & 62% WILL BE UNEMPLOYED. THOSE EMPLOYED EARN MINIMUM WAGE.
• 62% OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL MORE THAN ONE YEAR ARE UNEMPLOYED. THOSE WHO ARE EARN MINIMUM WAGE.
• 60% OF ADULTS WITH SEVERE LITERACY PROBLEMS HAVE UNTREATED LEARNING DISABILITIES.

SPECIFIC LEARNING AND ATTENTION DISABILTIES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE THE MOST COMMON IMPEDIMENTS TO KEEPING WELFARE CLIENTS FROM BECOMING AND REMAINING EMPLOYED.