Archive for the ‘ Advocacy Education ’ Category

Advocating Social Media to Promote Change to Literacy Laws

At the 62nd annual conference for the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), held in Chicago in November 2011, renown experts in the field of education, researchers, educators, advocates, parents, and business and political leaders converged to share the latest advances, techniques, and teaching methods targeting dyslexics and learning disabled children. With literacy levels in the U.S. slipping to all-time lows and growing disenchantment with current education policies, the Dyslexia Association is taking a lead role in drafting model language for State Literacy Law changes and pushing for the passage of the LEARN (Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation) Act.

In a recent press release, IDA executive director Stephen Peregoy emphasized, “The International Dyslexia Association has been tireless in its effort to promote literacy for all students and ensure that all learners receive the support needed to achieve their full potential.” To advance literacy law changes, this year’s conference included a forum on using social media to organize, mobilize, network, and motivate parents and educators to improve U.S. literacy. Scott Douglas Redmond, a business strategist, technology architect, President of Clever Industries, and a dyslexic himself, led a discussion at the IDA conference on using social media in grassroots campaigns.

Scott has numeric dyslexia (dyscalculia) and experienced learning challenges while growing up alternately labeled “gifted” then “handicapped” and identified as either a “dumb kid” or a “smart kid.”

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) defines dyscalculia as representing a range of disabilities involving math learning with broad variations that can include difficulty learning the meaning of numbers, trouble counting, recognizing numbers, solving basic math problems, and having other math-related challenges. NCLD posts on its website that “LD [Learning Disability] is more than a difference or difficulty with learning – it is a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information.” Read more

2011
12/27
CATEGORY
Advocacy Education
Lawyer
TAGS



Comments Off

Working To Make Education Advocacy A Reality

Educational advocacy is a diverse field. It encompasses both working to reform public and private schools and to impact the public policies that underlie those schools. groups such as the Acton Institute propose reform through morality in education and free market initiatives. Other centers for reform work to enhance the effectiveness of school districts.

Yet despite this diversity of agendas, all such groups bear one key commonality. They are all dedicated to education reform and the success of each is contingent on developing professional capacities that typify best managerial practices. This article shares several recommendations specifically focused on improving operational effectiveness.

Embrace academic professionals

With no small measure of irony, it is a belief among some, that campus practitioners are too closely intertwined to be effective in influencing education public policies. However, these very practitioners train young campus leaders for careers as advocates and grassroots organizers.

The students of such practitioners are outstanding candidates to be inspired as members in the movements to support your education reform cause. And though such students may lack the resources to travel and interact personally with your team, the widespread availability of free conference calling solutions means that efficacious methods of communication through teleconferencing are affordable.

Remain focused

The most effectively managed educational reform groups are ones that stay clearly focused on their mission and do not get enmeshed in peripheral goals. Virtually all educational advocacy groups operate under substantial time constraints. Focusing on four goals with total effort will generally yield superior results compared to going after four goals at one fourth effort. Read more

2011
12/06
CATEGORY
Advocacy Education
TAGS



Comments Off