Understood.org makes heading back to school easier for families of students who struggle in the classroom

USA - English

• USA - español

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Council and Understood.org have joined together to promote ways children and their families can be "First-Day Ready" for the new school year. Understood.org is offering a free First-Day Ready Guide to help parents—with students of every age—successfully manage back-to-school transitions.

The guide offers customized tips based on three key questions such as a student's grade or academic struggles. Practical resources include teacher introduction letters, backpack checklists and suggestions for how to create a dedicated homework station, among many others.

The beginning of a new school year can be challenging for all children, but it is an especially difficult time for families with children who struggle with reading and writing, math, focus and organization. One in five children in the U.S. have learning and attention issues, like ADHD and dyslexia, and many never receive a formal diagnosis. Children with these types of challenges can feel especially stressed during the back-to-school season as they face new subjects, teachers, friends and schools.

"Our First-Day Ready Guide offers parents and caregivers a personalized way to help their child start the school year on the right foot," said Kevin Hager, managing director of Understood.org. "It's important to keep in mind that all kids learn in different ways and at different paces. With the right support, kids with learning and attention issues can thrive in school and in life."

Without proper awareness and support, students with learning and attention issues struggle. According to a recent report by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, students with specific learning disabilities are 31 percent more likely to experience high levels of bullying, more than twice as likely to be suspended, and drop out of school at three times the rate of children without these challenges.*

For more information on learning and attention issues, visit Understood.org. The First-Day Ready Guide is available in both English and Spanish.

Understood.org
Created by 15 nonprofit partners, Understood.org is a free online resource and community supporting parents of the 1 in 5 kids with learning and attention issues. Understood.org empowers millions of parents through personalized resources, daily access to experts, interactive tools and a supportive online and on-the-ground community. Winner of the 2015 Webby Award for Best Family/Parenting Site and the 2016 Cynopsis Award for Best Branded Digital Platform, Understood.org is operated by the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). For more information and resources, visit Understood.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Ad Council
The Ad Council brings together the most creative minds in advertising and media to address the most worthy causes. Its innovative, pro bono social good campaigns raise awareness. They inspire action. They save lives. To learn more, visit Adcouncil.org, follow the Ad Council's communities on Facebook and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

DATA SOURCE:

* National Center for Learning Disabilities – 2017 The State of Learning Disabilities: Understanding the 1 in 5 report

http://www.ncld.org/the-state-of-learning-disabilities-understanding-the-1-in-5

SOURCE The Ad Council

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