Volunteer and employment opportunities with the Learning Disabilities Association of PEI

by Heidi Riley

The Learning Disabilities Association of PEI (LDAPEI) advocates for people with learning disabilities and tries to raise greater awareness. The non-profit organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.

“Along with summer camps, we are planning several other activities running up until our actual anniversary on November 20, 2025, for which we will have a big celebration with a fundraising gala in October 2025,” says Cindy Lapeña, Operations Manager, LDAPEI.

Learning Disabilities are specific neurological disorders that affect the brain’s ability to store, process, retrieve, or communicate information. They are invisible and lifelong. Learning disabilities can be compensated for through alternative ways of learning, accommodations, and modifications.

Learning disabilities can be in the areas of reading, math, or processing information.

“The most common type of reading disability is dyslexia,” says Cindy. “About one in five students can have dyslexia. If you don’t intervene early, students encounter difficulties, because dyslexia affects everything they do inside and outside school.”

Math disabilities also affect how students are able to cope in school. “Anything that affects a student and prevents them from learning can be a disability,” says Cindy. “That includes ADHD, non-verbal learning disorder, and developmental disabilities.”

Besides advocacy, LDAPEI also offers a tutoring program. “Currently we have 13 active Tutors and three Tutors in training. Five volunteers are helping out, who are very important to us because we are a non-profit organization.”

Employment opportunities

LDAPEI is looking to hire Tutors who have an undergraduate degree, preferably an education degree. “What is most important is that you are interested and you want to help. We provide training, and we ask you to stay with us for a couple of years in payment for the training. Or you can pay for the training yourself.”

For math Tutors, the preference is for people who have a degree in mathematics or science. Tutors are paid an hourly rate. Hours vary from part-time to almost full-time, depending on how much time you have to give.

Volunteer opportunities

Are you interested in volunteering? Do you need volunteer hours as a post-secondary student? There are various opportunities during the year. Examples include workshop support, fundraising, and database creation/maintenance.

This summer, LDAPEI will be recruiting volunteers for the summer camps for students with learning disabilities. Topics will include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) as well as reading, IT and other subjects where students with learning disabilities are at a disadvantage.

Looking for volunteer board members

LDAPEI recruits board members on an ongoing basis. Board meetings take place in person or virtually about 10 times a year. Members sit on a sub-committee reflecting their skill-set. Committees include programming, advocacy, governance, and finance.

Board members must be at least 18 years old and have backgrounds such as students, government, further education, lawyers, educators, psychologists, accountants. Several have lived experience with a learning disability. The process for recruitment of board members includes a submission of your resumé and a brief letter explaining why you want to join. If you are interested in volunteering, call 902-894-5032 or email info@ldapei.ca