"Parents are most effective when they have up-to-date information, communication, and community resources," according to the www.washington.edu, but sometimes this information is hard to find.  Various internet sites find blogs from military families relocating to the area, looking for help as to what schools to choose for their children.  Moving and education questions are further complicated for those concerned with a child's learning disabilities.  Still, resources exist to ease concerned parents. 

Learning Disabilities Association of Washington, www.ldawa.org, is nearby at 16315 N.E. 87th St, #B-4 Redmond, WA 98052 to assist educators and disseminate information.  Elizabeth Erwin, Ed.D. and Leslie Soodak, Ph.D. write an article found on the website that gives learning strategies to practice both at home and in a school setting. 

Emphasizing the importance of organization, they suggest a calendar for weekly planning that can aid in a child's anticipation of upcoming plans or a "to do" list as a memory help.  They also suggest specific learning strategies and highlight the value of daily reading aloud with follow-up conversation about words, story and pictures.  Another article on the same site by the same authors endorses ideas of self-advocacy linked with child's success and puts forward many ideas for promoting abilities to state preferences or ask for assistance. 

Clover Park School District offers free screening to those who call 253-583-5180 and live in the area.  The district office located on Gravelly Lake Drive in Lakewood supplies resources to families and often holds a resource fair annually.

For many school age children, reading poses an extra challenge, yet Seattle's Washington Talking Books and Braille Library, (206) 615-0400, catalogues many general reading books and novels on tape usually arriving within seven days of order.  This is a free service which includes return postage, but requires a completed application to be signed by a medical doctor. Applications and information may be found at www.spl.org/wtbbl/wtbbl.html.  Recording for the Blind and Dislexic, 1-800-221-4792 or www.rfdb.org, also supplies recorded text books at no cost.

The Goodwill is a source of many programs benefiting youth in general, 253-573-6682 while STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents), specifically renders service to military families with children who require special education. 

At www.stompproject.org, STOMP claims it is "...the only National Parents Training and Information Center for military families providing support and advice to military parents without regard of the type of medical condition their child has."  Honoring the parents' role in the child's welfare and education, the STOMP philosophy states, "We believe that parents should be the primary spokesperson for their child until the child is confident and able to share the responsibility.  We believe that a child with special education needs has the right to an education developed to address his or her unique needs and abilities whether they are academic, social, vocational or behavioral." 

Though located off base at 6316 South 12th St. in Tacoma, STOMP takes its service no less seriously, "STOMP knows because each year thousands of families turn to us for reliable support, information and advice.  Our commitment is to empower these families in their vital role as advocates, providing training, information and support."

Also located in Tacoma, ADD resources, w3addresources.org, brings screening tests online along with podcasts, suggested reading material, support groups and upcoming events and speakers.