| Have you heard of Albert Einstein or Thomas | | | | optimistic yourself. A simple change in your |
| Edison or Alexander Graham Bell? Of course yes, | | | | attitude will transform the parenting of your child |
| you know them! They are the great inventors | | | | with a learning disability from challenging to |
| whose inventions are still talked about, and their | | | | easygoing. |
| inventions have paved the way for several new | | | | It is important to diagnose learning disability to |
| innovations. But did you know what was common | | | | decide the appropriate line of care. An early |
| to all three of them? They all suffered from | | | | diagnosis will help in treating the manageable |
| learning disability sometime in their lives. | | | | physical and psychiatric conditions. In some |
| The spread of awareness on issues like learning | | | | conditions genetic counselling is also required. |
| disability in India is very recent. There is still | | | | Besides psychiatrists, even paediatrician, general |
| inadequacy in the rehabilitation services and special | | | | practitioners and other hospital specialists may |
| education programmes. Even if there are facilities, | | | | also help in diagnosing learning disability. |
| the lack of awareness prevents them from | | | | "The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, |
| getting utilized. A better awareness of learning | | | | Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, |
| disorder and at the same time a better | | | | 1995," which came into force in the year 1996, is |
| awareness of culturally acceptable means for | | | | a significant step in the direction of ensuring equal |
| treating the affected children can only decrease | | | | opportunities for people with disabilities and their |
| the burden on affected children, their families and | | | | full participation in the nation building. This law is a |
| society in India as a whole. | | | | landmark and grants provisions like education, |
| Learning Disability is a state of arrested or | | | | employment and vocational training, job |
| incomplete development of mind which includes | | | | reservation, research and manpower |
| significant impairment of intellectual and social | | | | development, creation of barrier-free |
| functioning. Arrested or incomplete development | | | | environment, rehabilitation of persons with |
| of mind might be considered to mean whatever | | | | disability, unemployment allowance for the |
| caused the disability occurred in childhood or | | | | disabled, special insurance scheme for the disabled |
| before. | | | | employees and establishment of homes for |
| LD can create a crisis between children and | | | | persons with severe disability etc. |
| parents, and often the quality of the attachment | | | | Your positive attitude and your efforts along with |
| is affected in a negative way. Parents are special | | | | proper moral support can successfully help you or |
| in their own way but parents of special children | | | | your child to overcome this disability. Always |
| with disabilities are uniquely special. Always | | | | remember that even an ‘IMPOSSIBLE' says |
| remember that parents are role models for their | | | | ‘I-M-POSSIBLE.' So, this year on the Learning |
| children, and children are quick to enact the | | | | Disabilities Awareness Month, get yourself abreast |
| behaviour of their parents. To develop a positive | | | | of the information on learning disability and |
| outlook in your child, it is first important to be | | | | measures to overcome it. |