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Monthly NewsNote
August 2003
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CACLD - An Essential Organization
About 40 years ago the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
was formed. Since that time it has evolved and is now concerned with learning
disabilities in children, teens and adults as well as Attention Deficit Disorder
in all ages. Not surprisingly, it has become a major community resource. If you
don’t know about this valuable organization, let me introduce you to it
now.
CACLD is a support for parents and families who must learn how to deal with
a complex situation. Very often the diagnosis is thrust upon a family following
a test or evaluation, leaving them feeling confused and not knowing where to
turn for information and help. CACLD is there with programs, support and advice.
The scope of its activities is probably too broad for me to cover here. But
let me mention a few. It has the best bookstore on the subject of LD and ADD.
You can visit and check out what’s new and relevant for you. If you need
a specialized referral for treatment, tutoring, specialized evaluations or special
helps, they can give you a list of names.
Education via outstanding programs is a strong point. Throughout the year they
sponsor a number of programs relating to various aspects of LD and ADD. The
highpoint is the annual conference, which this year will be in Stamford on Saturday,
November 1st. The keynote speaker will be Larry Silver, M.D., a well-known psychiatrist
and author. There are numerous workshops throughout the day following the opening
address. If you go, your only problem will be deciding which to attend.
Of course, it is people who make an agency. Beryl Kaufman is the Executive
Director. She supplies caring, warm, and efficient leadership. Also important
is Val Lux. For many years she has been available to advise, to give special
guidance to help parents become advocates for their children, and to read every
new book before it is accepted into the bookstore.
There are many others involved, of course, and I apologize for not listing
more. The real point is that caring people work with great energy to help children,
teens and families with a difficult group of problems.
After I make a diagnosis of ADD and do some preliminary guidance and treatment,
it is common for the family to have many questions and special needs. It is
my feeling that CACLD can offer help in many ways that go beyond what can be
done in an office. I therefore urge all those coping with an LD or ADD problem
to join CACLD (dues only $40) as I am sure that they will be helpful and supportive
as you deal with the condition.
CACLD has a website at http://www.cacld.org. It is still under development
but may have some information you will find useful.
CACLD is located at 25 Van Zant Street, Suite 15-5, East Norwalk, CT 06855
and the phone number is 203-838-5010.
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