What LD Online does

LD Online is a non-profit educational website founded in 1996 that serves as an authoritative online resource on learning disabilities (LD) and ADHD. Operated as an educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C. (legally the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, Inc.), the platform delivers categorized articles, guides, and a glossary covering LD/ADHD topics including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and reading difficulties. Its audience comprises four segments: parents of children with LD/ADHD, K–12 educators, adults living with LD/ADHD, and postsecondary students navigating accommodations and college transitions. The site has formal association with the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD), lending professional credibility.

The platform is built on a web-based content management system with community forum functionality and is committed to WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility conformance. Core product components include: (1) the main website with topic-organized content sections ("Getting Started," "Topics," "For Educators," "For Families"), (2) seven topic-specific community forums — Teaching Students, Parenting, Postsecondary Education, Adults with LD/ADHD, Events and Announcements, Behavior/Social Skills, and IEPs and Legal Issues — holding 100,000+ posts and 15,000+ topics accumulated over 20+ years, (3) a "Your Stories" submission platform with personal essays, Kids' Voices, and a Kids' Art Gallery (ages 5–18), and (4) a weekly email newsletter. Distribution is entirely self-serve through ldonline.org with no registration required for content consumption, plus cross-promotion within the WETA family of properties (Reading Rockets, Start with a Book, Colorín Colorado, AdLit, Reading Universe) and social channels on Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn.

LD Online has no commercial revenue model: all content and community features are free, with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or advertising. Funding is derived primarily from a generous grant from the National Education Association (NEA) and donations routed through WETA's donation platform. The organization maintains a small staff of 1–10 employees and operates as part of WETA, a public television entity. There are no funding rounds, no parent-company separation, no M&A activity, and no public trading — consistent with a mature, mission-driven non-profit operating in maintenance mode within a larger public-media institution.

Name

LD Online

Legal name

Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, Inc.

Website

https://www.ldonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LD Online is a non-profit educational website providing authoritative information, community forums, and resources on learning disabilities and ADHD to parents, educators, adults, and postsecondary students. It is operated by public television station WETA and funded primarily by an NEA grant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Content

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH), IEP/IFSP-Aligned Curriculum & Lesson Materials (EDAGAMAA)

Keywords

• Special education resources
• Learning disabilities information
• ADHD educational content
• Parent teacher guidance
• Online disability community

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary funding from grants, notably from the National Education Association (NEA). LD OnLine is an educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LD Online is a free, non-profit educational website that publishes authoritative articles, topic guides, and resources about learning disabilities (LD) and ADHD for parents, educators, and adults. The platform hosts topic-based content areas covering LD Basics, ADHD Basics, IEPs and Legal Issues, and more, alongside user-driven community forums with over 20 years of accumulated advice, personal story submissions, and a kids' art gallery. It is operated as an educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C.

Product overview

LD OnLine is a single educational website platform offering comprehensive resources about learning disabilities and ADHD. The core product is the main website providing topic-based articles and guides. Supporting features include community forums with over 20 years of archived discussions, a story submission system for personal essays, a kids' art gallery showcasing creative work from children with learning disabilities, and a weekly newsletter. The platform serves parents, teachers, and adults with learning disabilities through categorized content sections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LD OnLine Website

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• WETA Washington, D.C.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLD OnLine is an educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C. WETA serves as the parent organization providing operational support, funding infrastructure, and institutional backing for the LD OnLine platform.
• National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLD OnLine works in formal association with NJCLD, an organization that serves as a national forum for the identification and treatment of learning disabilities. This association lends credibility and ensures alignment with professional standards in the LD field.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Understood.org: Understood.org is a leading free online resource for parents of children with learning disabilities and ADHD, offering expert-vetted content, tools, and a community. It is the closest direct competitor to LD OnLine in terms of mission, audience (parents and educators), and free content + community model.
• ADDitude Magazine: ADDitude is a major ADHD-focused media brand offering articles, webinars, expert Q&A, and community forums for adults and parents of children with ADHD. Direct overlap with LD OnLine's ADHD audience and editorial coverage.
• National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): NCLD is a non-profit advocacy and resource organization for the LD community, providing policy, parent resources, and youth transition tools. Overlaps with LD OnLine's mission to inform and empower parents and educators of children with LD.
• Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD): CHADD is the leading national non-profit serving individuals with ADHD, offering educational resources, support groups, and an annual conference. Direct overlap with LD OnLine's ADHD community-forum and parent-education focus.
• Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA): LDA is a national non-profit providing advocacy, resources, and professional development on learning disabilities. Comparable to LD OnLine in serving parents, educators, and adults with LD through information and community channels.
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA): IDA is a non-profit dedicated to dyslexia advocacy, education, and professional standards. Direct content overlap with LD OnLine's dyslexia coverage, with a more clinical/professional orientation.

Emerging players

• Reading Rockets: A sister WETA property focused on reading difficulties and young readers. Comparable audience (parents and educators) and content type, though Reading Rockets is narrower in scope (reading only) and overlaps more heavily with LD OnLine's dyslexia content.
• Wrightslaw: Wrightslaw is a leading resource for parents navigating special-education law, IEPs, and advocacy. Direct overlap with LD OnLine's IEPs and Legal Issues forum and parent segment.
• Smart Kids with LD: Smart Kids with LD is a non-profit offering resources, webinars, and a community for parents of children with learning disabilities. Closely comparable in scope, audience, and free content model to LD OnLine.

Regional players

• Colorín Colorado: Another sister WETA property focused on English-language learners, serving educators and families. Comparable as a WETA educational property, but its audience (ELL educators) is adjacent rather than overlapping LD OnLine's core LD/ADHD focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LDOnLine
• Facebookfacebook.com/LDOnLine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-joint-committee-on-learning-disabilities

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LD Online