Short Description
SPELD NSW (Specific Learning Disabilities Association) is a Public Benevolent Institution and a registered charity whose aims are to support, disseminate information and advocate in response to the needs of children and adults who have Specific Learning Difficulties and those who teach and care for them.
More Details
Part of the National Federation of SPELD Associations (AUSPELD), SPELD NSW is a non profit making association of parents and professional persons interested and involved in advancing the education and general well-being of children and adults with Specific Learning Difficulties / learning disability.
SPELD NSW strives to support, disseminate information and advocate in response to the needs of children and adults who have Specific Learning Difficulties and those who teach and care for them by:
. supporting their educational and daily life needs,
. supporting teachers, other professionals and kindred associations
. promoting knowledge of and equal access to all aspects of education which accommodates the needs of children and adults with SLD,
acting as advocates on behalf of the target population in advancing collaboration and communication with educational and government authorities and other relevant bodies.
SPELD NSW seeks to fulfil its mission by providing:
. Support
. open community access to the helpline
. educational consultation - including professional interpretation of assessment results
. full educational assessment for children and adults
. referral database of specialist teachers and professionals
. courses for professionals, parents and children
Dissemination
. quarterly Newsletter covering teaching and learning for those experiencing SLD, research, book reviews, new books in the library, alternative therapies, courses / seminars / workshops / talks being held, a diary page and more,
. resource - members' library including journals and other publications
resource - new books for sale about various aspects of SLD, attention and behaviour difficulties including educational games for literacy and numeracy
website
conferences / seminars / workshops / talks
Advocacy
. lobbying at local, State and Commonwealth levels, especially for:
research into the prevention and remediation of SLD, bringing about better education and training for teachers in the identification and instruction of SLD
. representation on government advisory committees
. writing submissions
. representation to the media with parents through government and school policies and processes
Management Committee
The affairs of SPELD NSW are overseen by a volunteer Management Committee