Home / Frequently Asked Questions
Finding Content on SchwabLearning.org
Obtaining Permission to Reprint Content
Frequently Asked Questions
[print only this category]Audio Support (Browsealoud)
Does SchwabLearning.org have audio support so I can listen to articles?
Our website is "speech enabled" when using Browsealoud — free, downloadable speech software. Once the software is downloaded, simply scroll your mouse over the text that you want read to you. Browsealoud allows you to control the pitch, voice, and speed of the voice to suit your needs. To download the free software, go to: http://www.browsealoud.com/downloads.asp?dl=bl.
[print only this category]Email Newsletter
How do I subscribe to the email newsletter?
If you wish to subscribe to our Learning Difficulties email newsletter, please visit our subscription page. Fill in the required boxes, indicate which newsletter(s) you want to receive, and submit.
How do I unsubscribe to the email newsletter?
Simply visit our newsletter subscription page, fill in the boxes, and submit.
What should I do if a link does not work in the newsletter?
To report any broken links in our email newsletter, please contact us and be sure to provide the date of the newsletter and the title of the article you are trying to access.
How come I’m not receiving your newsletter even after I have subscribed?
The most likely reason is that you entered your email address incorrectly during registration. To correct your email address, visit our newsletter subscription page and enter the correct email address.
Is it possible to get past issues of your email newsletter?
Yes. We maintain an archive of our past newsletters through December 2007. Past issues are organized by the date they were sent to subscribers. Visit our archive.
Finding Content on SchwabLearning.org[print only this category]
Can you provide personalized advice about my child?
We regret that we are unable to answer individual questions about your child. For personalized advice, we recommend you contact the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (aka NICHCY) by phone at (800) 695-0285 or by email at nichcy@aed.org.
Esta buscando consejo personalizado en espańol?
Ojala que los articulos que leyo le ayudo. Lamentablemente, no podemos hacer respuestas particulares a individuos. Si usted tiene preguntas particulares sobre aprendizaje, puede llamar or escribir el National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY), El Centro de Informacion Nacional para Jovenes Deshabilidados. El numero telefonico es: (800) 695-0285 y el e-mail es nichcy@aed.org.
Do you have information on adults with learning and attention problems?
This website is dedicated to addressing the needs of children and teens with learning and attention difficulties. While we do not address those issues in adults, we can recommend resources that do.
Do you have information on Pervasive Developmental Disorders (e.g., autism and Asperger’s Disorder)?
This site is dedicated to addressing the needs of children with learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and related problems. For a list of resources that address the disorders you’re asking about, please see “Asperger’s, Autism, and Other Disabilities.”
Who writes the articles on SchwabLearning.org?
SchwabLearning.org articles are written by a variety of authors. They include nationally recognized experts, educators, parents raising children with learning difficulties, individuals who have learning difficulties, professional writers, and our own staff writers. For more information about our authors, please visit our Contributor Bios page.
How can I find a certain article on the site?
There are several ways to search for a certain article on our site:
Use the Search Feature (at the top of every page of our site):
- To find a list of articles on a specific topic, click the box “Select a topic to search” to access a drop-down menu of topics.
- To search by author, article title, or relevant grade level, or if you don’t find your topic on the “Select a topic” search box, click the “More Search Options” link that appears just below the “Select a Topic” search box. This will take you to the Advanced Search page of our site.
Use the main sections of our site (shown on the navigation table) to explore the wide range of information we offer:
- Identifying Difficulties
- Managing your Child
- Managing Home and Family
- Managing School and Learning
- Connecting with Others
- Resources
- Publications
Where can I find information on tax breaks and affordable resources for families raising kids with learning difficulties?
At the top of every page on our website you’ll find a search box that says “Select a Topic to Search.” When you click on this, a drop-down menu will appear; from there select the topic “Financial Help and Taxes.” A list of relevant articles and resources will appear.
Why don’t you have information about LD and/or AD/HD in countries outside of the U.S.?
This website primarily serves parents and professionals who influence the lives of children (aged preschool through high school) who have learning difficulties or AD/HD and reside in the United States.
What should I do if I find a broken link?
Please report broken links to us by using the Feedback feature on our site. Be specific about the article or webpage where you found the broken link, and include the title of the link you are trying to access.
Can I order copies of Schwab Learning publications through your website?
No. Our print publications are available only as PDF downloads.
How can I suggest an article topic for your website?
To suggest an article topic, please contact us by using the Feedback feature on our site. Note: We appreciate hearing from you but cannot guarantee that we will act on all the suggestions we receive.
Obtaining Permission to Reprint Content[print only this category]
Can I have permission to reprint the articles?
If you are interested in obtaining our permission to reprint a SchwabLearning.org article, please visit our Reprint Permissions page.
Privacy Policy[print only this category]
What is SchwabLearning.org's Privacy Policy?
We respect your privacy and understand your concerns. We explain what kinds of personal information we ask for and how we use it. We recommend that you read our Privacy Policy.
SchwabLearning.org — “My Page”[print only this category]
Can I still use My Page and related features?
You can no longer sign in or register on SchwabLearning.org. The following features are no longer available on the site:
- My Page feature
- Track Discussions feature
- Save to My Folders feature
- Add to My Subscriptions feature
- Edit Profile feature
Now that My Page is unavailable, how can I find the valuable articles, discussions, and resources I'd saved there?
If you were not able to bookmark your links before My Page shut down, here are a few other tools that you can use to easily find content that is relevant to you:
- The search features on the site allow you to easily find content by topic or grade level.
- If you remember the article title, you can visit our alphabetical list of articles.
SparkTop.org ™[print only this category]
How is SchwabLearning.org affiliated with SparkTop.orgTM?
SchwabLearning.org and SparkTop.org™ operated under the umbrella of Schwab Learning (a program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation) until January 2008. SparkTop.org™ is now owned and operated by the Professor Garfield Foundation.
Who do I contact if I am having technical difficulties with SparkTop.org?
Please contact webmaster@sparktop.org regarding technical difficulties with SparkTop.org.
Where can I submit comments about SparkTop.org?
Please send your comments to webmaster@sparktop.org.
Technical Help[print only this category]
How can I send messages to SchwabLearning.org?
You can send electronic messages to SchwabLearning.org by clicking on ”Feedback”, located at the bottom of every page on our site. When you click on Feedback, an input screen will appear. Just type in the information requested on the screen and type your message in the box provided. Click “Submit,” and your message will be on its way to us!
How do I email an article to a friend?
To send one of our articles or resources to a friend, open the article on your screen, and click on the “Send to a Friend” icon near the top of the article. A second window will pop up where you can enter your friend’s name and email address. After filling out this form, click on “Submit.” The link to the article will be sent to your friend.
How can I print an article by itself — without everything else that appears on the screen?
First, go to the article you’d like to print and open it so that it appears on your screen. To print just the text of the article, click the “Print This Article” icon located near the title. A window will pop up containing the article in a printer-friendly format. Your ready-to-print screen will then automatically pop up over the article.
How do I know if I can view and/or print the PDF files on your site?
To view and print PDF files, you must have Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader (PDF-reader software) downloaded on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader on your computer, you may download it for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Yes, you can print the PDF files you find on our site. With the PDF file open on your screen, click on the printer icon near the top of the browser.
If I have trouble printing or viewing a PDF, where can I find help?
First, make sure you have downloaded a current version of Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader, which is software that reads PDF files. If you do not have Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader on your computer or need to update your current version, you may download it for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Further support for Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader is available at: http://www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html
What does “bookmarking” a webpage mean?
Bookmarks (called “Favorites” on some Internet browsers) provide a convenient way to record and organize links to websites you visit often. When you use your computer to “bookmark” a URL (or identify it as a “favorite”), you add a link to that website to the Bookmarks or Favorites menu on your computer. Then, any time you want to access that website, simply select the name of the website from your Bookmarks or Favorites menu.
Will my computer’s operating system and browser allow me full access to SchwabLearning.org?
To have full access to our website (including interactive features and functions), we recommend the following computer operating systems (OS) and browsers:
Windows 98 and newer versions:
Internet Explorer 6
Firefox 1.5
AOL 9
Netscape 8
Opera 9
Mac OS X:
Safari 1.2
Firefox 1.5
Opera 9
Unix/Linux: (if it supports Flash 6)
Firefox 1.5
Opera 9
When I view articles on your site, some strange-looking letters and symbols appear in the text. How can I get rid of them?
If you see odd-looking letters and symbols in the text, like the example above, check to make sure that your Internet browser's character encoding is set to “Unicode (UTF-8).”
If you use the Internet Explorer browser, you can check this by clicking on View->Encoding at the top of the window. If “Unicode (UTF-8)” is not selected, then click on it to select it. This should clear up the problem.
If your browser is Mozilla Firefox, you can check this by clicking on View->Character Encoding and select Unicode (UTF-8).
Transition FAQs[print only this category]
Where can I find out about the transition of SchwabLearning.org to GreatSchools.net?
Go to Transition FAQs