Launching during LD Awareness Month (October 2025), LDAO — through LD@school — is releasing a new literature review, Diagnosed through Bias: Unpacking the Intersection of Race, Disability, and Inclusion in Special Education in Ontario. Authored by Dr. Ardavan Eizadirad and Dr. Steve Sider (Wilfrid Laurier University), the review examines how identity factors intersect with Learning Disabilities (LDs), ADHD, and other neurodivergent exceptionalities.
About the Review:
This literature review explores how aspects of identity — including race, gender, and socioeconomic status — shape the experiences of students with LDs, ADHD, and other neurodivergent exceptionalities.
It is guided by two central questions:
- How do systemic structures in Canadian and Ontario education shape the experiences of racialized students with LDs, ADHD, and other neurodivergent exceptionalities?
- In what ways do race, disability, and neurodivergence intersect to influence access to assessment, identification, and supports in Ontario schools?
Companion Guide:
Alongside the review, LD@school will release a Companion Guide to help educators, administrators, and policy leaders apply the insights to classroom and system practice.
Launch Event:
Stay tuned for details about our upcoming launch event, where the authors will share key findings and discuss practical applications.
Available October 2025.
About the Authors
Dr. Ardavan Eizadirad is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. A former Toronto District School Board educator, he has authored and co-edited numerous works on equity and anti-racism in education, including Decolonizing Educational Assessment (2019). He is also the founder and Director of EDIcation Consulting, providing equity, diversity, and inclusion training and capacity-building for organizations and schools.
Dr. Steve Sider is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University and the founding director of the Centre for Leading Research in Education. His research focuses on educational leadership and inclusive school cultures in diverse contexts, including Canada and internationally. He has co-authored several books, including Leadership for Inclusive Schools (2022) and A Research Agenda for Inclusive Education (2025)
Powered by LDAO
This resource is brought to you by LD@school, a signature initiative of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO), a registered charity and provincial leader in inclusive and accessible education.
For over 60 years, LDAO has supported children, youth, and adults with learning disabilities (LDs) and related conditions such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Designed for educators, LD@school provides evidence-based and practice-informed resources, along with classroom-ready strategies to help Ontario teachers create equitable, accessible learning environments for students with LDs, ADHD, and other learning differences.
LDAO also offers other signature platforms, including TA@l’école (for French-language educators), LD@home (for families), and LD@work (for adults and employers), supporting the LD community across the lifespan.