The Greater Baton Rouge
Learning Disabilities Coalition
We at the Greater Baton Rouge Learning Disabilities Coalition (GBRLDC) believe in supporting
our families and educators to ensure all learners have access to the resources they deserve.
Stay Tuned!
The 2025 CW Austin Learning Disabilities Conference is officially in the works; check back soon for more information!
About Us
We are a group of parents and professionals who are passionate about helping our children with learning disabilities in order to increase academic and personal success.
We work together to create a hub for organizations who are committed to changing the world for ALL children living with a learning disability in and around the Greater Baton Rouge Area. It is important to collaborate with organizations from around our parish to work to help children create a productive and educational environment.
Our LD (Learning Disabled) children deserve the best our community has to offer and this coalition works to bring together parents and professionals equipped to improve education for our kids with learning disabilities.
Through professional development, networking, and advocacy, this coalition can give parents and professionals the tools they need to move LD kids through school successfully and into their careers.
Our 2023 Conference
Our Board
Our mission's success is a communal effort, supported by those across Baton Rouge as well as our outstanding board members, consistently working to better the opportunities of our younger generations.
President
Georgann is the president of the Greater Baton Rouge Learning Disabilities Coalition, board member of the Louisiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, and the founder of the C W Austin Learning Disabilities Conference. An experienced higher education disability professional and consultant, Georgann works as an advocate in the community to increase awareness on issues related to learning disabilities. In addition, she provides professional development through presentations at conferences, school in-service, community events and as a guest lecturer at LSU, Grambling, Southern University, Loyola, UNO, Nicholls, University of Southern Mississippi, Delgado, and Baton Rouge Community College
Vice President
Virginia “Jenny” Hastings has spent 42 years in education, working as a teacher, a learning specialist, an administrator and a community activist. She also spent eight years on the board for Trinity Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge.
Secretary
Jane St. Pierre is a Senior Proposals Analyst at Pearson Virtual Schools USA, a division of Pearson Education, Inc. An avid education enthusiast and certified Reading Recovery teacher, Jane taught students in grades Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas for more than two decades. Prior to joining Pearson, Jane was employed by an estate planning law firm in Baton Rouge and completed a paralegal studies program at Louisiana State University.
Treasurer
William B. Daigle, Ph.D. received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston, TX. A native of Baton Rouge, he returned to his hometown where he worked as a psychologist in the community mental health system and at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. In 1999, Dr. Daigle went into full time private practice working with children, adolescents and young adults who have a variety of emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. He has a special interest in learning disabilities and is a founding board member for the Greater Baton Rouge Learning Disabilities Coalition.
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Dr. Randy Lemoine is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge, where he has provided psychological services to children/adolescents and families for over 40 years. He is a member of the GBRLDC board and a frequent presenter at the conferences. As a developmental psychologist, he has a passion for helping parents, teachers and professionals to better understand and to advance ways to improve the psycho-social and psycho-educational development of youth in their care.
Board Member
Belynda is Past President of CHADD’s National Board of Directors and was named to CHADD’s Hall of Fame in 2020. She serves on numerous local, state, and national committees involved in special needs advocacy. A Chapter Coordinator since 1990, Belynda was named CHADD’s 1998 Coordinator of the Year. She is a longtime Board Member for Families Helping Families, founding member of the Greater Baton Rouge Learning Disabilities Coalition and served on the Louisiana ADHD Task Force. Belynda Gauthier has thirty-seven years of human resources experience, including twenty years as HR Director of a large organization. She was awarded the BACE Employer of the Year Award for her work with employees with disabilities.
Board Member
Alisha Diggs, Ph.D. is a wife and mother of four children. As a graduate of Southern University and A&M College, she holds a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and recently earned her PH.D from the University of Louisiana Monroe. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor working at Baton Rouge Community College. She serves students from various backgrounds providing services including individual and group counseling on issues relating to social, personal, and psychological concerns. Prior to BRCC, Alisha worked as a school counselor in East Baton Rouge School System.
Board Member
Dr. Rebecca Parker is an assistant professor at Southeastern Louisiana University. She holds a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University, Louisiana licensure in speech-language pathology, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), and teaching certification through the Louisiana Department of Education. Dr. Parker has twenty-five years of clinical experience serving individuals with language and literacy disorders. Her research investigates the contribution of executive function to reading comprehension, the relationship between oral and written language, and the impact of low literacy levels across the lifespan.
Board Member
LaCrystal McCoy, Ph.D. is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) working at Baton Rouge Community College. She provides individual and group therapy to students with various backgrounds, offer supportive services to ensure appropriate accommodations for students with a disability, and co-host programs on mental health and disability-related topics. LaCrystal combines traditional therapy with alternative treatments to achieve the goals they have in their minds for themselves. She is committed to providing the highest quality of care to promote healing and growth. Her areas of interest include self-esteem/empowerment, managing emotions (anxiety, depression, etc.), grief/loss, relationship issues, and academic issues. LaCrystal received a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Southern University and A&M College and her Ph.D. from the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Board Member
Wendy Devall is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has worked in post-secondary education and now in the area of Parks and Recreation. Her past work experience includes academic, disability, and personal counseling in higher education. She coordinated the Advising, Counseling, and Disability Service office and helped to create a counseling department. Devall organized and planned orientation sessions for both students and parents, planned professional development workshops, and taught Introduction to Psychology. She was also part of the ADA Audit team that conducted accessibility and inclusion through post-secondary institutions.
The Chris Austin Creativity Award
Every year, we are proud to recognize students with learning disabilities in the Baton Rouge area who embody a creative spirit. For many learning disability students, grades do not reflect their potential and this award is designed to look beyond grades to the creative spirit of the individual.
This honor is awarded as a memorial to Chris Austin, who was a talented dyslexic college student who let his creative spirit shine in many ways. Chris loved to play guitar and sing the blues—he was a self-taught musician and was a gifted singer. In addition, Chris was an inventive writer who planned a career in screenwriting. He was interested in the visual arts and also volunteered to help kids with learning disabilities.
Chris was tragically killed by a drunk driver at age 20. His family has donated this award with hope that it will inspire students with learning disabilities to pursue their dreams through creativity.
You can see Christopher's first professional performance HERE, a YouTube video entitled "AustinBlues Tribute to Chris."
To participate in this program, school counselors in the Baton Rouge community should contact ggmireinbr@hotmail.com one month before their school awards ceremony.
