named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Advisory Board
Provides strategic guidance to the organization, drawing on expertise in psychology, psychiatry, education, and nonprofit leadership to expand the reach and impact of NVLD awareness and support.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Initiative led by the Development and Communications team to educate the public, families, and professionals about NVLD through digital media, publications, and community engagement.
Scientific Council
Comprised of leading researchers and clinicians in child psychiatry and developmental disorders, this council guides the organization’s research agenda and promotes scientific understanding of NVLD.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 2 activities
- Hosts public education and community engagement eventsOrganizes and participates in conferences, expert lecture series, community workshops, book signings, and fundraising events to promote awareness of NVLD. Includes hosting the annual Expert Conversations series streamed on YouTube and presenting at national forums such as The Child Mind Institute.
- Operates Social Ambassador program for peer storytelling and awarenessRuns a Social Ambassador program launched in 2018 that empowers young adults with NVLD to share personal experiences through blogs, videos, social media, and word-of-mouth to raise public awareness and reduce stigma.
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Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 1 activity
- Advocates for inclusion of NVLD in the DSMLeads advocacy efforts to have non-verbal learning disability formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), including submitting proposals to the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM Steering Committee and convening expert consensus meetings to develop a DSM-formatted definition of NVLD.
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Neurological Disorder Research & Rehabilitation 1 activity
- Conducts and funds neurocognitive and epidemiological research on NVLDSupports and conducts evidence-based research on non-verbal learning disability, including neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and epidemiological studies to identify neural correlates, cognitive profiles, and population prevalence. Research includes studies on hippocampal volume, white matter microstructure, visual-spatial processing, and social cognition in youth with NVLD, as well as funding field trials for revised diagnostic criteria (DVSD/NVLD) and cross-sectional studies identifying distinct NVLD subtypes.
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Autism & Neurodiversity Education Workshops 1 activity
- Delivers professional development workshops for educators and cliniciansProvides workshops and staff development trainings for school faculty and clinical professionals on topics including differentiating instruction based on neurocognitive profiles, supporting students with NVLD, and addressing social challenges associated with learning differences, delivered at institutions such as Mary McDowell Friends School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, and Columbia University Medical Center.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Develops and distributes educational toolkits for professionals and educatorsCreates and shares educational resources, including classroom presentation toolkits and instructional guides co-developed with schools like Winston Preparatory School, to improve understanding of how NVLD manifests in educational settings and to support effective teaching strategies.
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Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
- Disseminates NVLD resources through digital and social media platformsShares articles, blog posts, photos, videos, and educational materials about NVLD across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter to support community education and broaden public understanding of the disorder.
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Fundraising and Financial Support for IDD Services 1 activity
- Funds research and programs related to NVLDProvides financial support for research initiatives, educational workshops, community outreach programs, and clinical services focused on non-verbal learning disability, including funding neuroimaging studies and efforts to establish standardized diagnostic criteria for inclusion in the DSM.
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Professional Training and Certification in Mental Health 1 activity
- Supports clinical training and assessment services for NVLDSupported the establishment and operation of The Lemle Clinic at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, the first U.S. clinic dedicated to the assessment and treatment of individuals with NVLD, which also provides clinical training for graduate students in psychology.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$373K
Contributions & grants$385K103%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$6810%
Other revenue$-13K
expenses
Total expenses$320K
Program expenses51%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising40%
Salaries & benefits$178K
Grants paid out$100K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$65K
Cash$65K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.05M
Net assets$-984K
Liquid reserves2.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAULA M DENNIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $107K |
board members · 5
- DAVID PRATT — DIRECTOR
- LAURA C LEMLE — TRUSTEE
- REBECCA HALPIN — DIRECTOR
- TOD COOPERMAN — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM FROSCH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- American Psychiatric Association Government — Submitted a formal proposal to the APA's DSM Steering Committee to include NVLD in the DSM diagnostic system.
- Brooklyn Heights Montessori School Partner — Collaborated with The NVLD Project to deliver workshops for faculty on learning disabilities and associated social challenges in children.
- Child Mind Institute Partner — Collaborates on epidemiological research to estimate NVLD prevalence
- Child Mind Institute Partner — Collaborates on research and clinical care initiatives related to NVLD, including expert appointments and public education.
- Child Mind Institute Partner — Collaborates with The NVLD Project through shared expertise and resources.
- Child Mind Institute Partner — Funds research on NVLD at the Child Mind Institute.
- Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Partner — Conducts brain imaging research on NVLD in collaboration with The NVLD Project
- Columbia University Partner — Collaborates on neuroimaging and epidemiological research studies related to NVLD
- Columbia University Partner — Collaborates with researchers at Columbia University on NVLD-related studies, including an online clinical utility study.
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Partner — Collaborates with researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center on the DSM proposal for NVLD inclusion.
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Partner — Funds research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on NVLD.
- Columbia University Medical Center Partner — Collaborates with The NVLD Project through shared expertise and resources.
- Ethical Culture Fieldston School Partner — Partnered with The NVLD Project to conduct workshops on improving social experiences for middle and high school students.
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University Partner — Hosts the Lemle Clinic in partnership with The NVLD Project to provide assessment and treatment services for individuals with NVLD.
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University Partner — Partnered with The Lemle Clinic at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology to support clinical training and treatment for individuals with NVLD.
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Partner — Collaborates with faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, including Mark Riddle, MD, on the DSM proposal for NVLD inclusion.
- Laura Lemle Family Foundation Funder — Cofunded a neuroimaging study on brain structure and verbal-visual spatial discrepancies in NVLD
- Mary McDowell Friends School Partner — Received staff development workshops from The NVLD Project on differentiating instruction for students with learning disabilities, particularly NVLD.
- Nathan Kline Institute Partner — Part of research team estimating NVLD prevalence in the general population
- School-Based Mental Health and School Based Health Centers at Columbia University Medical Center Partner — Hosted workshops presented by The NVLD Project on supporting students' social and academic needs through differentiated instruction.
- The Child Mind Institute Partner — Hosted a presentation by Dr. Amy Margolis from The NVLD Project on Nonverbal Learning Disorder.
- The Lemle Clinic Partner — Collaborates to improve understanding of non-verbal learning disability through clinical services and education.
- The Ohio State University Partner — Hosts ongoing neuroimaging research on NVLD led by Dr. Amy Margolis
- Understood.org Partner — Collaborates on public awareness content to improve understanding of parenting children with NVLD.
- University of Padua Partner — Supports research conducted by the University of Padua on early life experiences and visuospatial difficulties in individuals with Non-Verbal Learning Disability.
- University of Toronto Partner — Collaborates with Dr. Amy Margolis on NVLD epidemiology research
- Winston Preparatory School Partner — Collaborated with The NVLD Project to create an educational toolkit for parents and educators about NVLD in classroom settings.
- Yeshiva University Partner — Collaborates with The NVLD Project through shared expertise and resources.
- Yeshiva University Partner — Partnered to establish the nation's first clinical program dedicated to Non-Verbal Learning Disorder at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.
- Yeshiva University Partner — Partnered to support the launch of The Lemle Clinic at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology for assessment and treatment of individuals with Non-Verbal Learning Disorder.
+ 1 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Diagnostic Recognition as Clinical Gatewaymethodology: diagnostic_advocacyBy establishing NVLD as a recognized diagnosis in the DSM through research and advocacy, the organization enables accurate identification, access to accommodations, and targeted treatment—because formal classification unlocks systemic support in healthcare, education, and research.
- Neurobiological Validation to Define NVLDmethodology: neurobiological_validationBy identifying unique neurobiological markers and brain circuit features associated with NVLD, the organization validates it as a distinct clinical condition—because objective biological evidence strengthens diagnostic legitimacy and differentiates it from other learning disorders.
- Reframing Diagnosis to Improve Claritymethodology: diagnostic_reclassificationBy reclassifying Non-Verbal Learning Disability as Developmental Visual-Spatial Disorder, the organization clarifies its core deficit in visual-spatial processing—because more precise terminology reduces misdiagnosis and aligns public and professional understanding with the actual cognitive profile.
- Stakeholder Education for Widespread Recognitionmethodology: stakeholder_educationBy educating parents, educators, clinicians, and researchers using evidence-based tools and resources, the organization improves early identification and support—because widespread understanding across key systems increases intervention efficacy and reduces unmet needs.