Learning Disabilities
There are so many learning labels floating around these days ...
A.D.D., A.D.H.D., Dyslexia, etc. Basically, these are labels
pinned on children who are in some way learning disabled. I
think most of these kids are learning advanced, but I'll try to
stick to the facts ... somewhat ... ;-)
Children who cannot sit still or are disruptive in a classroom
environment are sometimes suffering from Attention Deficit
Disorder (A.D.D.) When they are also extremely hyper, they earn
the tag of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (A.D.H.D.)
When children are prone to twisting their letters and numbers
around, they are often called Dyslexic.
There are definitely some children who need medication to
control their out-of-control emotions or actions. There are some
who have a serious chemical imbalance, preventing them from
blending with others in a socially acceptable manner. And there
are the kids who really have a hard time keeping numbers
straight or learning to read in a typical classroom setting with
standard teaching methods. These children are learning disabled
in that they do need resources and other methods to help them
learn basic lessons and needed skills such as reading, writing,
adding and subtracting.
These wonderfully different kids are also usually very bright,
artistic and unusual in amazing ways. They can be willful,
temperamental and sad or they can be sweet, loving and joyful. I
believe they are what we, their parents and caretakers, teach
them they should be. I also believe they are a big part of our
future, among the children of this world who will be our
brightest stars. They are the kids who do not see everything in
terms of black and white or up and down. They see blue, purple
and fuchsia where everyone else sees the norm. They hear
melodies not yet created. They envision buildings not yet
designed. They are learning disabled only because they do not
learn as the majority of us do. They see life through a set of
eyes and ears not limited by structure or regimentation. They
feel and capture life with fingers that expound the essence of
velvet and toes that glorify the silkiness of sand. They feel
sadness and joy through hearts that swell with the beauty of
sunsets and melt with compassion for the underdog.
These children are the different ones among us. They should be
honored for their uniqueness. Unfortunately, they are more
likely to be labeled and boxed into a problem corner, snuffing
out their bright lights and destroying their self-esteem at a
tender age. We have known and still know quite a few of these
different kids. I don't know one child who is not amazingly
bright in one or more areas of life that most of us are stymied
by. They are exceptional artists, musically genius, enormously
big-hearted or mature beyond their years. One is on Ritalin and
thanks his mother daily for giving him the chance to get
straight 'A's as he always knew he could. One is an outstanding
athlete who will most likely make the Olympic team in the
not-too-distant future. Another is an accomplished pianist and
songwriter at 12 years of age. All of these children have some
pretty wicked learning disabilities and they are all just the
best kids one could hope to know and love. They are awesome!
Some public schools have excellent resource programs for the
learning disabled child. Most private schools do not have the
room or the inclination to support a resource curriculum,
however, there are private schools that cater only to learning
disabled children. These schools can be frightfully expensive
but many are the only hope some children will ever have for
academic success. One girl we know came home from her first day
at one of these high-priced schools elated and said: "I'm
finally learning something!" Wow ... her mother told me this
with tears in her eyes. This school has a variety of classroom
environments, each supporting a different learning style. Their
philosophy is that children learn differently, be it auditory,
visual (the normal school methods cater to visual) or tactile.
The children are grouped with other like-learning kids to create
auditory, visual or tactile-learning classrooms. Obviously, they
are on to something.
Parents with learning disabled children need to work with their
kids, helping with homework and assignments more than average.
If you are the parent of a learning disabled child, there are
resources available today that were not around just a few years
ago. Know that there is help for your child and for you. Ask
your child's school about resource programs, recommended methods
of working with your child at home and any other useful
information they can and will give you. And remember that your
child is probably going to grow up to become one of the more
valued members of society if they are gently guided and helped
through the beginning years of academic training.