By Melissa Rey

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award. The award recognizes high school students “who have done amazing things, making a lasting impact on their schools and communities.” In the following post a former award winner shares some worthwhile tips her parents used to help her manage her learning challenges as she made her way to becoming the successful adult and business woman she is today.

I am sure that it is hard for parents of a child with LD to know how to help. Here are a few of the many ways that my parents helped me:

Listen Along: Kids with LD feel left out when their classmates talk about books that are beyond their reading level. My mom tackled this issue by playing audiobooks like Harry Potter when we were riding in the car. I am still a big audiobook fan.

Play the Game: When I had a hard time counting coins in first grade, my mom turned our kitchen into “Barb’s Restaurant” complete with menu, prices, and a stack of coins. It was fun to add up my breakfast tab and pay my bill. She found spelling games that helped take the drudgery out of learning spelling words. Visit the app store and check out YouTube to search for apps and games for your child.

Search the Web: My mom conducted regular internet searches for ways to help students with dyslexia and then she would buy things that seemed promising. Some, like speech recognition software were great. Other things, like tinted overlays for reading, were not. When I got to college, she often emailed me links, asking, “Would this be fun?” One of her best finds was a semester-long dry-erase calendar, which was wonderful.

Get Out of the School Box: School is always stressful for kids with LD. Help your child find activities outside of school where they can master a skill and experience success. In my case, developing soccer and acting skills brought me happiness and confidence.

Ace in Space: My mom showed me that science equals fun by planning an adventure at a NASA parent-child camp program. After Space Camp, we tried Pilot-Co-Pilot Camp, where our all-girl team came in first place in the “Escape and Evasion” challenge of being dropped in the “wilderness” and finding our way back to base camp.

My biggest message to parents: Keep trying to help your kids. We appreciate your concern and effort much more than we will ever be able to tell you.

To learn more about the Smart Kids Youth Achievement Awards and access the application form (which closes January 15, 2026), click here: https://www.smartkidswithld.org/2026-fred-j-epstein-youth-achievement-award/