Thursday, August 28, 2008
WELCOME
The LEAD (Learning and Educating About Disabilities) Foundation was organized in 2002 by a handful of parents familiar with the frustrations and difficulties of putting students with learning disabilities and/or AD/HD through the public school system.

The Foundation supports and educates the entire Colorado Springs community on issues relating to learning disabilities and AD/HD by hosting free Community Forums to the public, often featuring nationally known speakers and experts on learning disabilities, sponsoring a Parent Support Group to parents in the junior high and elementary schools, funding scholarships to students with learning disabilities and providing a community Resource Center of materials on Learning Disabilities and AD/HD.

In addition, the Foundation supports the unique LEAD program in the Cheyenne Mountain School District in fulfilling their mission to educate others about learning disabilities. Started in 1997, The LEAD program has built a reputation throughout the nation, as an exemplary curriculum for "Learning and Educating about Disabilities".

Replication of programs similar to LEAD in other high schools, which teach students with learning disabilities the importance of self-knowledge and self-advocacy skills, is one of the primary goals of the LEAD Foundation.

Student Presentations
A unique aspect of LEAD is the formal presentations by LEAD students to parents, educators and learning disabilities professionals. Through personal testimonies and power point slides, these presentations serve to educate others about the social, emotional and academic difficulties students with disabilities encounter. As a result, thousands of people now have a better understanding of how to help students with learning disabilities and AD/HD in the classroom and at home. LEAD presentations inspire others to become better teachers, school administrators and parents to students with LD. In addition to innumerable local and state presentations, the group has participated in The International Learning Disabilities Conference in Washington DC (1998), New York (2001), Denver (2002), Atlanta, Georgia (2004) and Jacksonville, Florida (2006).

NATIONAL

International Learning Disabilities Conference
  • Washington D.C., 1998
  • New York, New York 2001
  • Denver, Colorado 2002
  • Atlanta, Georgia 2004
  • Jacksonville, Florida 2006

Council for Learning Disabilities 28th International Conference, 2006

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, 2005

Advocacy and Learning Center, Eldorado Hills, California 2003

STATE

  • Jefferson County School District; 2006
  • Colorado Courage to Risk Conference: 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • Denver Schools for the Arts: 1998
  • Learning Disabilities Association, Denver Chapter Parent Panel; 1997 - 2000
  • Sharing for Success, State Conference, Arvada; 1999 and 2000
  • Learning Disabilities Association, Denver Chapter Community Forum, 1999
  • Colorado State Inclusion Conference, Denver; 1999
  • Colorado Special Education Paraprofessional State Conference; 2003 - 2006

LOCAL

  • Peak Parent; 2006
  • University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; 2006
  • University of Denver; 2006
  • National Alliance of Mental Illness Silver Anniversary Conference; 2006
  • LEAD Foundation Community Forum; 2006
  • Pike's Peak Regional High School Resource Meeting; 2006
  • Teacher Recertification Alternative Assessments, Colorado Springs, District 12; 1998
  • Teacher Recertification Phonemic Awareness, Reading, Colorado Springs, District 12; 1998
  • Type D Administrators, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs; 1998 - 2000
  • Teacher Certification Class, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs; 1999 - 2003
  • Broadmoor Rotary; 1998
  • Palmer High School Learning Disabilities Department
  • Learning Disabilities Association, Colorado Springs Community Forum; 1999
  • Pikes Peak Partnership for Educators & Parents; 1999
  • Cheyenne Mountain Junior High Faculty; 2002
  • Cheyenne Mountain High School Faculty; 1999 & 2003
  • Cheyenne Mountain School Board; 1998
  • Cheyenne Mountain Leadership Team

UPCOMING

  • Colorado Special Education Paraprofessional State Conference
    October 19th, 2:30
    Denver, Colorado

  • LDA 45th Annual International Conference
    February 29, 2008
    Chicago, Illinois
 
LEAD Foundation is an affiliated fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.
LEAD Foundation, 730 N. Nevada, Colorado Springs, CO 80903