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