United Way opens door to education
Stephanie Burr
Staff writer
December 3, 2007
For most of us, reading, writing and talking are everyday activities. However, for those with a learning disability, these seemingly simple actions are frustrating and terrifying.
With the help of United Way, the Learning Disability Association (LDA) helps children and young adults conquer their learning disabilities and regain control of their lives.
“We take for granted that everyone can easily read and write. In reality, 10 per cent of the population has learning disabilities and related disorders,” says Debbie Cybulski, RSW Executive Director for the LDA South Vancouver Chapter. “Every year, the United Way of Greater Victoria (UWGV) helps us keep our doors open and enables us to help those who don’t know where to turn.”
The LDA is a non-profit organization that educates, and supports children and young adults facing learning disabilities.
“We advocate for those who otherwise remain unheard,” says Cybulski. “Not many people realize the consequences learning disabilities have on families, and the communities they live in. The University of British Columbia recently identified that 52 per cent of youth living on the streets have learning disabilities and are on the streets as an effect of their learning restraints.”
The LDA was started in the early 80s by a group of concerned parents and teachers. “There was nowhere for their children to find help, so they took it upon themselves to create a place for others to go for assistance,” says Cybulski. “We are the only LDA servicing the south part of the island, and we’re very busy. We get families from Port Alberni camping in Goldstream Park just to be close enough to access our services.”
During its formative years, the LDA struggled to find support. “Today, the UWGV donates $20,000 a year, and we receive approximately $5,000 from their designated funds,” says Cybulski. “It was their funding that made it possible for us to get our pilot projects off the ground, and today those projects are vital in our youth programs.”
The LDA’s youth programs are a good resource for children diagnosed with learning disabilities, but Cybulski says the principal hurdle they run into is that the interventions aren’t proactive enough.
“The biggest issue we encounter is that learning disabilities are assessed when a child’s skill development is behind their intellectual potential and they are already having difficulties,” she says. “We need to find a way to identify and address these difficulties before the problem infiltrates their lives and becomes cataclysmic.”
Learning disabilities not only affect individuals directly suffering from them, but they also have a profound impact on their families. Support for the children and their families is key says Cybulski. “As these young people and their families gain skills they will be better equipped to cope with the stresses of living with learning disabilities.”
A good portion of the donations the LDA receives from the UWGV directly benefits both the children and youths suffering from learning disabilities, and their families. “We put a lot of the UWGV funds into education and supportive programs; these help educate communities and their members about the realities of learning disabilities. This means more people will have a better understanding of what the family, child or youth is going through,” says Cybulski. “With almost all cases, when there is adequate support, there is a significant decrease in the stress levels that the families are trying to cope with. Also, by having a solid support system students and parents can get support through the school system and with other community agencies.”
For more information on the LDA go to www.ldac-taac.ca.
