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