Do you have a child with a Learning disability and worry about some things?

Question

Are you concerned about whether he/she will be able to
graduate from High school? Do you worry about whether
he/she will be able to go to college.
Do you feel the school is doing a good job of helping
your child?

Answer 1

My son was diagnosed with a learning disability in the area of written expression and reading when he was in first grade. He is now in fifth grade, he is goes to resource room only for "study skills" and this year is the first year that he is reading on grade level. I have few academic worries, I'm worried about his lack of common sense but that's another story.

I think together the school and I have done great things with his progress. I think if my son wants to go to college he will be fine. Right now, I worry about (and check) homework getting done, reading log being taken care of, sport practice or games... to much right now to enjoy in him besides pressuring him about college.

For the parents who feel the school isn't helping their child then maybe you need to go to the special education director of your school system and ask for materials. Do research into learning programs that you think will benefit your child and ask for the materials. I work in a "child first" school district. Parents ask for programs, and we discuss them at team meetings and purchase them. Parents and I are currently asking for their child's reading level books in our middle school library. ( i have first and second grade reading levels in my classroom) We are making progress.
Also, parents make sure you are doing everything you can for your child, taking advantage of every program out there that's available. Our school has open-free tutoring three nights a week for any child who wants it. Many of our teachers stay after school to work with students, (no extra charge) churches often have tutoring available, the library may have programs available. If you don't know of any programs ask around. Schools only get your child 6 hours a day.

Answer 2

My daughter is learing disabled. It was obvious to me since she was about 3 yrs old that she was not picking up on simple things that other kids were. Also, she's my third child, so I had a general idea of what to expect. Anyway, she sat through JK, SK & Grade 1 not knowing what way going on. She became frustrated and delveloped low self esteem. The official testing took place in grade 1, but it was near the end of the year, The reason for this, I was told, was that both JK and SK are optional and therefore the children are not evaluated at that level. Also, they said sometimes things come together by grade 1, and that kids all learn at a different pace. I got the test results during the summer vacation between grades 1 and 2. As I thought all along, my daughter was labelled LD (severe) and put in an IEP. The program she's in at school is called the Arrowsmith Program. I understand that it's a private school in the States, but here in Ontario some Catholic schools have adopted the program on a small "trial" basis. Bottom line is that she's in grade 6 now and the improvement in every area are astonishing. Going into grade 2 she was below JK level. She now reads and writes at a grade 3 level, does basic math and is integrated into a regular class for art, religion and phys-ed. I do worry though, because aside from her progress in the Arrowsmith program, her peers can be cruel and the other teachers in the school don't seem to have much patience for her.....As for college, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but it'll be a very long hard raod for her.

Answer 3

Yes, I do. I am concerned about the high school issue. I hope he will be admitted in the first place, let alone graduate. Obviously college/university is another step beyond that. I don't think that his school is helping him as much as they should. His learning disability isn't really that extreme; he has improved a huge amount since last year. However, he keeps getting report cards that talk about there being little improvement in certain areas, but he hasn't brought home any homework for at least 6 months and the majority of his school days are taken up by watching movies. The children in his class are also bribed with ice-blocks and ice-creams so that they behave. As my son is very well-behaved and a very nice little boy, he is always being given these treats which I believe, is not a decision a teacher should have the power to make! Children with learning disabilities are often affected by the flavours, additives, preservatices, chemicals and colours that can be found in these products. Of course, there has been no correspondence with the parents as to whether this is an acceptable practice or not. I think government funding is certainly an issue but like I said to my partner today, you're either a good teacher or you're not. If you are concerned about your child's schooling at the moment, please be vocal and forthright about your opinions and wishes - you are the parent and there is nothing more important than that.

Answer 4

It depends so much on the individual teachers!!! Some want to see the child succeed and will go out of there way to help them, others just sit back and wait for pay day. It is so difficult if you cant get the school to support you.

I will be sending my boy to a high school that has both vocational and educational components and the children who are not inclined to go to college or are having problems with learning can do more practical things. One of the teachers said the vocational section was having a lot of success teaching illiterate teens to read because the student saw a point to reading instructions on a carpentry plan or cook book, where they didn't read for enjoyment'

And just for the record in Western Australia, at the moment,

Forrest Gump wouildnt be able to get a teachers aid or Ed support. Seriously!!

Answer 5

I am answering this question, because I feel like I can help!

My dad had a learning disability. Back in the 50's the nuns at his catholic schools used to beat him because he couldn't read... he was dyslexic. but that never stopped him.

I can't say that he overcame his disability, because he didn't. However, he was and still is brilliant! He studied what he did understand. Math wasn't a problem for him because it was logical... just because you can't read doesn't mean you can't think.

And I will leave you with this parting thought... When my dad was in High School, the counselor told him that he'd be lucky to be a garbage man. My dad is not extraordinary, it's no special story... but he worked hard, and made a great living, and raised me. I grew up in an upper middle class suburb. Learning disabilities are only challenges to determining how one can succeed, but they can and do. Just find it.

Answer 6

I am deaf and I have a learning disability. I graduated from high school with honors so I didn't have any problems. I had a great set of parents who helped me, along with friends too. I think that if a child surrounds them with loving people who actually care about you then they would do well in life. I am an example of that.

Answer 7

i teach children with learning disability and often face these questions not only from parents but also from the children.
my answer is that if we can help them believe in themselves and support them through school we can get them to pass the 10th and then when they go into a group they like they will be motivated to do better. once they move into college they will be doing things they like and generally do it well.
set them goals only 5 marks ahead of their own achievements, they will feel it is within reach.

Answer 8

the true way to help any kid is to spend time with this child and forget about all the pressure,the survival guide for parents of gifted kids by sally yahnke walker,1991~ will give a framework of cross sections in what is a players view of how the governments money is broken down where and who and the numbers for doing things is really humble compared to the amount of true understanding there is for wanting to help but no funds ever really had the chance to go from a start to finish for any child yet.'
off handed i think it was 63% were normal 14% above normal and the rest believe it or not fell into a similar grouping of super kids strange kids and underfed kids, emotional disturbed, yadda yadda, so the book breaks down things for smart people, but it all so honestly views the faults for all education, just as much as it does for any single group it also labels hows labels are given and to whom and why:this is critical for understanding changing attitudes in hidden agendas

Answer 9

I have grandchildren who are slightly below par, and yes I wonder how they will get on in life. They should be at a normal run establishment, and accepted into the stream, They themselves, will be the only ones who will actually be able to solve this, as to how quickly they pick up things in their minds to doing things, most schools have an area set aside in curriculum for them to do things at their pace. but its always not enough we feel, but we cant make them grow up feeling they arn`t any good.

Answer 10

I can safely say that as long at a kid with any disability has one person to belive in them and push them then they will go fare in life. Me , I'm 16 and a junoir in hight school , I have A leaning disabliity , ADD , and dislexie and I have been in all main streem classes ,with out add for over two years now and doing great.