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