• A supportive community of students with learning and attention differences who help each other achieve the drive to thrive in school and in life;


• A chance for a wide variety of students to feel secure, hopeful and socially connected, so that they no longer need to hide their learning and attention differences from peers, friends, employers and others in order to be accepted;


• A face-to-face and online forum for younger learners to connect with mentors who can share personalized strategies for effectively managing the academic and social challenges faced by students with learning and attention differences;


• A way for ALL learners to achieve effective strategy use, resilience, effort, and positive self-concepts.

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• The SMARTS Mentoring Program draws on the expertise of ResearchILD’s psychologists, clinicians and educational specialists, as well as over 25 years of research that has produced cutting-edge learning and teaching strategies;


• The effectiveness of SMARTS will be systematically measured through comprehensive assessments of mentors’ and mentees’ progress;


• ResearchILD, an internationally recognized non-profit organization, has demonstrated that effective strategy use, resilience, effort and positive self-concepts are critical for life success – more so than IQ or skill level;


• SMARTS mentors have faced academic and social challenges similar to those of their mentees, allowing them to share personalized strategies and eliminate feelings of fear, loneliness, and despair.

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ResearchILD’s Student Leadership Committee, made up of high school, college and post-college students, organized and ran the first highly successful Different Types of SMARTS Fair in June, 2006. This group of inspiring youth will help to advise mentees and mentors, as well as plan group activities and one-time events. The SMARTS Mentoring Program will positively impact both mentees' and mentors' self-concepts and social relationships!