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