• Dyslexia is a learning disability that disrupts how your brain processes written language.

• It may affect a person’s reading, writing, spelling, processing speed, speech, and organizational skills

• More info can be found here.

• Dysgraphia is a learning disability that causes difficulty with writing.

• It may affect a person’s handwriting (messiness, poor spacing), writing speed, grammar, spelling, syntax, and often leads to avoidance of writing tasks.

• It can also cause issues translating thoughts into written words.

• More information can be found here.

• Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and number-based information.

• Areas of impact might include the ability to recognize numbers or math symbols, order numbers, learn how to use money, or recognize and learn to use number lines.

• More information can be found here.

• ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

• It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how your brain works and develops.

• With ADHD it’s harder to control your attention or direct it to certain tasks.

• ADHD causes symptoms like difficulty focusing, trouble sitting still and impulsive behaviors. But it also allows you to hyperfocus on things you enjoy.

• There are several types of ADHD, including inattentive ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, combined presentation and unspecified presentation.

• More information can be found here.

• Autism (autism spectrum disorder, or ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how your brain works and that shapes your behaviors, interests, social interactions and ways of communicating.

• Autism characteristics fall into two main groups:

  1) Difficulties with social communication and interaction that affect how you socialize.

  2) Restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests or activities that affect how you act.

• Early signs of autism include limited eye contact and body language, and repetitive motions or speech.

• More information can be found here.

IEP stands for Individual Education Plan and means exactly that. An IEP details special education instruction, supports, and services a student needs to thrive in school. They are covered under the IDEA law.

504 plans are are used to detail accommodations a student needs to succeed in a general ed classroom - for example, more time on tests, written directions, and more. They are covered under a civil rights law called Section 504.

• An IEP pulls a child out for specialized instruction; a 504 keeps them in the general classroom with accommodations only. Some schools only offer one or the other.

• A neuropsychologist can recommend which fits best, but the final plan is decided collaboratively between the school and parents.

• Parents have real input on what goes in the plan and should push back if an accommodation does not match their child's needs (e.g. extended time may not help a time-blind ADHD kid, but flexible breaks and movement might).