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