NJCLD Symposia | Learning Disabilities Research & Education

Join the NJCLD at our fall symposium

Featuring Dr. Elizabeth Peña

When: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

7:00 PM EST – 8:30 PM EST

Where: Hosted on Zoom

Language Assessment of Bilingual Children: Disentangling Difference and Disorder

This symposium is the first of a 4-part series on supporting literacy development for English Learners. In this first session Dr. Peña will review bilingual development and assessment with an emphasis on the role of language experience. She will review current approaches to determining language difference vs. language disorder in bilingual children.

About the Presenter

Elizabeth Peña, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is a professor in the School of Education at UCI. She is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and is a Fellow of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Her research is guided by two lines of inquiry that address the goal of differentiating language impairment from language difference. Dr. Peña’s work focuses on bilingualism, language impairment, and the development of culturally appropriate assessment tools for children from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Past Symposia

SPRING

IDA’s 2025 Definition of Dyslexia: An International Evidence-based Update (3/4/26)

Drs. Hugh Catts, Malt Joshi, and Charles Haynes provide historical context and reasons for revising IDA’s 2002 definition of dyslexia. They then summarize important findings that have emerged since that version, and follow with an explanation of the data-driven process their Steering Committee employed for revising the definition. Key elements of IDA’s 2025 revised definition will be discussed along with implications for the dyslexia community.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: 3rL0+Q3i

FALL

Update on Recent Policy Shifts and Litigation in Washington for Students with Learning Disabilities (11/18/2025)

In this session Dr. Bateman gives an update on the most recent changes in legislation as it relates to education and the impact on students with Learning Disabilities.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: +*2Jq&@i

Understanding how Syntax is the Backbone of Comprehension (9/10/2025)

In this symposium Dr. Van Dyke will summarize 40+ years of psycholinguistic evidence showing that the language processing system is inextricably guided by syntactic knowledge as we construct meaning. This process is both incremental and predictive—but fundamentally dependent on the language knowledge of the comprehender. This suggests that early assessment and instruction of syntactic knowledge can play a pivotal role in preparing students for reading success.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: x@M*1Qg1

SPRING

What Do We Do Now? The Implications of Recent Policy Shifts and Litigation in Washington for Students with Learning Disabilities (4/23/2025)

In this session Dr. Bateman will discuss the recent changes in legislation as it relates to education and the impact on students with Learning Disabilities. Dr Bateman will also share actionable strategies that individuals can implement to advocate for and support our students with LD.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: p6BL62x?

WINTER

Part 4 of 4O: Learning Disabilities and Behavior In and Out of the Classroom: Executive Function (1/23/2025)

This webinar is the final of a four-part series where we will discuss the connection between learning disabilities and behavior challenges in children. This is especially important given the high co-occurence rate of learning disabilities and mental health conditions. In this session, Dr. Lynn Meltzer will provide considerations and strategies for building children’s executive function skills.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: 8v=q$kWr

SUMMER

Learning Disabilities and Behavior In and Out of the Classroom: A Focus on Anxiety: Part 3 (7/30/2024)

This webinar is the third of a four-part series where we will discuss the connection between learning disabilities and behavior challenges in children. This is especially important given the high co-occurrence rate of learning disabilities and mental health conditions. In this session, Dr. Eli Lebowitz will provide considerations and strategies for working with children with Anxiety. Specifically, Dr. Lebowitz will discuss the importance of integrating a psychological, medical, educational, and home environment approach.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: z?FwN7Ke

SPRING

Learning Disabilities and Behavior In and Out of the Classroom: ADHD and LD: Part 2 (5/7/2024)

This webinar is the second of a four-part series where we will discuss the connection between learning disabilities and behavior challenges in children. This is especially important given the high co-occurance rate of learning disabilities and mental health conditions. In this session, Dr. Eric Tridas will provide considerations and strategies for working with children with LD who also may present with ADHD. Specifically, Dr. Tridas will discuss the importance of integrating a psychological, medical, educational, and home environment approach.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: hQVQn.c3

Learning Disabilities and Behavior In and Out of the Classroom: Part 1 (3/26/2024)

This webinar is the first of a four-part series where we will discuss the connection between learning disabilities and behavior challenges in children. This is especially important given the high comorbidity rate of learning disabilities and mental health conditions. In our first session, Dr. Eric Tridas will provide a general overview of considerations and strategies for working with children with LD who also may present with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and challenges with executive function. Specifically, Dr. Tridas will discuss the importance of integrating a psychological, medical, educational, and home environment approach.

Use this Passcode to view the recording: J&?G1FfV

FALL

Accelerating Instruction to Meet the Needs of Students: Learning Recovery in Writing (9/12/2023)

This symposium will focus on evidence-based strategies that can be used to support students who experience difficulty with writing. As part of this symposium, the presenter will review high-impact practices that will benefit all students, including those with Learning Disabilities. Dr. Graham has vast knowledge on the evidence base of writing interventions and will provide tools that can be immediately applied to your learning environment.

SUMMER

Accelerating Instruction to Meet the Needs of Students: Learning Recovery in Reading (6/20/2023)

This symposium will focus on evidence-based strategies that can be used to support students who experience difficulty with reading. This is especially important in light of recent NAEP scores which show the number of students who struggle with reading continues to increase. As part of this symposium, the presenter will review high-impact practices that will benefit all students, including those with Learning Disabilities. Dr. Lane has vast knowledge on the evidence base of reading interventions and will provide tools that can be immediately applied to your learning environment.

SPRING

Accelerating Instruction to Meet the Needs of Students: Learning Recovery in Math (4/15/2023)

This symposium will focus on evidence-based strategies that can be used to support students who experience difficulty with math. This is especially important in light of recent NAEP scores which show the number of students who struggle with math has increased over the last few years. As part of this symposium the presenter will review high-impact practices that will benefit all students, including those with Learning Disabilities. Dr. Powell has vast knowledge on the evidence base of math interventions and will provide tools that can be immediately applied to your learning environment.

FALL

Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Learning Disabilities (9/12/2022)

Students with learning disabilities encounter unique challenges when they advance to postsecondary education. NJCLD addressed this critical transition in its recent paper. Join us as we share the paper and discuss this topic from multiple perspectives, including those at the high school and higher education levels. Learn strategies and approaches to help make transitions most successful for students.

Implications of New Federal Policies and Political Climate for Students with Learning Disabilities (10/16/2017)

Using a Multi-tiered System of Supports to Maximize Success for Students with Learning Disabilities (6/15/2015)

The Impact of Poverty on Learning: Implications for Students with Learning Disabilities (6/9/14)

Helping K-12 and Post-secondary Students with Learning Disabilities in an Era of the Common Core State Standards (6/3/13)

National Research to Practice Discussion (7/30/12)

Affirming the Validity of the LD Construct: Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice (5/23/11)

Comprehensive Assessment and Evaluation of Students with LD (6/4/10)

Adolescent Literacy and Students with Learning Disabilities: Building Effective Programs & Partnerships (6/5/09)

Transition to Higher Education for Students with Learning Disabilities: Building Effective Partnerships and Resources (5/30/08)