Committees of the Division for Learning Disabilities
The Division’s Committees work to carry out the stated purposes of the organization. Members interested in participating in committee work should contact the respective committee chairperson. Committees and their major activities are as follows:
Publications Committee
Michael Gerber, Chairperson
Contact
The Publications Committee:
- Coordinates the publication of the Division professional journal (Learning Disabilities Research and Practice) and newsletter (The DLD Times);
- Reviews the publications structure of the Division;
- Recommends to the Executive Board the publications which should be issued by the Division;
- Recommends policies and procedures related to their growth and development; and
- Assumes responsibilities for the Samuel A. Kirk Awards, the Division’s annual awards which recognize excellence in professional journal articles that have been published in Learning Disabilities Research and Practice.
Research Committee
Dr. Margo Mastropieri, Chairperson
Contact
The Research Committee:
- Reviews current research in the field of learning disabilities and related disciplines, and reports noteworthy findings to the membership through Division publications;
- Encourages the continuation of quality research in the field of learning disabilities;
- Takes responsibility for procedures with regard to the Annual Dissertation Award.
Professional Development, Standards, and Ethics Committee
Pamela Stecker, Chairperson
Contact
The Professional Development, Standards, and Ethics Committee:
- Advocates for appropriate standards to maintain high quality education and services for persons with learning disabilities;
- Promotes high quality teacher training and delivery of educational, therapeutic, and social services to individuals with learning disabilities;
- Promulgates activities which will disseminate good practices;
- Participates in appropriate committees or commissions which are developing or reviewing standards of performance for professionals in the field of learning disabilities and related fields;
- Advocates for ethical practice in the field of learning disabilities;
- Assumes responsibility for procedures for awarding the Fleischner and Exemplary Program Awards.
Membership Committee
Elizabeth Parrett, Chairperson
Contact
The Membership Committee:
- Encourages and monitors the development of subdivisions and assists subdivisions in their continuing activities;
- Coordinates with the Council for Exceptional Children to monitor and encourage increase in Division membership.
Children and Youth Action Network Committee (CAN)
Dr. Judy B. Engelhard, Chairperson
Contact
The Children and Youth Action Network Committee (CAN):
- Studies legislative and governmental affairs relative to needs and proposals regarding learning disabilities;
- Advises the DLD Executive Board about the need to develop position papers on behalf of persons with learning disabilities or the profession;
- Distributes legislative information and action alerts to the DLD Executive Board and designated subdivision CAN contacts;
- Establishes and maintains contact with the Public Policy unit of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC);
- Establishes and maintains a CAN network and communication system with DLD subdivisions on an annual basis.
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Committee
Dr. Yvonne Bui, Chairperson
Contact
The Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Committee:
- Develops strategies and activities to recruit DLD members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
- Increases publications concerning diverse populations;
- Involves DLD within the International Network.