Learning Abled Kids is a comprehensive resource website founded by Sandra K. Cook, offering guidance, curriculum recommendations, and community support for parents homeschooling children with learning disabilities and differences.
What is Learning Abled Kids?
Learning Abled Kids is a resource platform founded by Sandra K. Cook to help parents confidently homeschool children with learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. The site emerged from Sandy's personal experience—after her son wasn't taught to read in five years of public school, she homeschooled both sons to successful college admissions. The platform combines her professional credentials (a Master's in Instructional Design with Orton-Gillingham training) with practical experience helping over 1,700 homeschool families navigate learning differences.
Key Takeaways
- Founded by Sandy Cook, who homeschooled sons with learning disabilities to college success
- Specializes in dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and twice-exceptional (2e) learners
- Offers free articles, Facebook support group, and curriculum recommendations
- Books available including "How-To Homeschool Your Learning Abled Kid" (4.9/5 stars)
- Emphasizes that children with learning differences CAN learn with proper approaches
What the Site Offers
Learning Abled Kids provides extensive free content covering curriculum selection, teaching strategies, and emotional support for parents. The site includes detailed reviews of homeschool programs suited for different learning differences, guides on multi-sensory teaching approaches, information about assistive technology, and practical advice on handling behavior and focus challenges. A companion site (learningabledkids.info) focuses specifically on assistive technology resources. The Facebook support group connects parents facing similar challenges.
Founder Credentials and Philosophy
Sandy Cook brings both professional and personal expertise. Her Master's in Instructional Design focused on Universal Design for Learning, and she completed Orton-Gillingham training specifically for teaching dyslexic students. Her philosophy centers on the conviction that children with learning differences aren't broken—they simply need instruction that matches how their brains work. The success story of her own sons (entering college at sophomore standing with honors scholarships after struggling in public school) demonstrates what's possible with appropriate approaches.
Resources for Specific Challenges
The site organizes resources by challenge type. Dyslexia content covers Orton-Gillingham approaches and specific reading programs. ADHD sections address curriculum choices with interactive elements and strategies for maintaining focus. Content on autism includes understanding different neurological operating systems and adapting instruction accordingly. The twice-exceptional (2e) content helps parents supporting gifted children who also have learning disabilities—a population often underserved by standard approaches.
The Bottom Line
Learning Abled Kids serves a critical need in the homeschool community—reliable guidance for parents educating children with learning differences. Sandy Cook's combination of professional training, personal experience, and years supporting other families creates a trustworthy resource. For parents feeling overwhelmed by their child's struggles in traditional education, the site offers both practical curriculum advice and the encouraging message that proper instruction can transform outcomes.
