Anne ford biography

In 1970, when Anne Ford’s daughter, Allegra, was four years old, the family discovered that Allegra had a severe learning disability (LD).

At that time, although she had a wealthy, well-connected family, it was difficult to talk about a learning disability, much less get a reliable assessment of Allegra’s LD, or find a supportive learning environment for her.

As Ms. Ford sought out countless doctors, schools, and tutors over several years to find help for her daughter, she developed a strong conviction that no parent of a child with LD should have to make that journey alone.

As chairman of the National Center for Learning Disabilities for 11 years (1989-2001), Ms.

Ford served as a national advocate for children with LD and their families. When she stepped down from that position, she decided to write the book that eventually became Laughing Allegra, a candid and heartfelt memoir of her experiences