| "Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them" | | | | trouble. Parents have to be there to pick the child back |
| (Albert Einstein). For children with learning disabilities | | | | up and say "keep going, you can do it." All these |
| going beyond his or her limits occurs on a daily basis; at | | | | testing events will make the child stronger and more |
| least it does for me. I have been diagnosed with a | | | | confident - if the parents let them. |
| learning disability in reading since I was six years old. I | | | | Another way for parents to increase a child's |
| was put into special classes to improve my reading | | | | confidence about learning is to get her or him extra |
| fluency, comprehension, grammar, and spelling where I | | | | help with the areas in which he or she struggles. The |
| was pulled out of the room everyday for 30 minutes. I | | | | extra help could be in the form of a tutor, reading to |
| would be put into special education classes like these | | | | them, activity books, or playing learning games. |
| until I graduated. My high school special education | | | | Anything a parent does for extra help should be |
| teacher told me that I was different than the rest of | | | | related to the child's interests and elevates prior |
| her students because she didn't have to keep | | | | knowledge. If the child sees that his or her parents |
| motivating me or worrying about me. I thank my | | | | care enough to put effort into them, they are more |
| parents for that because they did three crucial things | | | | likely to try and thrive in approving their skills. Children |
| with me. First, my parents never let me use my | | | | do not want to feel different from their peers, so the |
| learning disability as a crutch. Second, they got me | | | | extra help could help close the gap. As the gap closes, |
| extra help when I needed it. Last, and perhaps the | | | | the child is more likely to feel a sense of pride in his or |
| most important, the word "stupid" did not exist in my | | | | her work, which is essential in the process of moving |
| house. These elements are critical to instill in any child | | | | forward and overcoming the learning disability. |
| with a learning disability to help him or her succeed in | | | | To overcome a learning disability, it is essential that the |
| school. | | | | child does not feel they are "stupid." I have heard |
| Throughout my years in special education I have seen | | | | people call themselves "stupid" and give up because |
| many students and their parents use their disability as | | | | they believe there is no possible way they are going to |
| a crutch. By allowing children to have this crutch, you | | | | understand what they are learning. A way for parents |
| are ultimately holding them back. This is because they | | | | to avoid this is by eliminating the word "stupid" |
| are not going to be able to do well in jobs and college | | | | completely out of the person's vocabulary. To me, no |
| since they have not been challenged enough. | | | | one can determine a person is "stupid"; it is all a mental |
| Challenging children promotes good work habits and a | | | | game. Everyone has talent and it shouldn't be taken |
| personal drive to succeed which colleges and | | | | away because they feel "stupid." Encouraging children |
| employers are looking for. Once these characteristics | | | | will help them find their talents and overcome the |
| are established in children, then the learning disability will | | | | obstacle of having a learning disability. |
| not be controlling them: they will control the disability. | | | | Obstacles are only obstacles if they are viewed as |
| Having this sense of control will help children feel better | | | | such. Parents must encourage the impossible for their |
| about themselves and more confident, at least it does | | | | children. Great things can happen with a little |
| for me. The child will not give up as easily if a problem | | | | encouragement. I am living proof of this. No one at the |
| arises because he or she will not want to lose control | | | | beginning thought I would get where I am now, studying |
| of their situation and they will instead use it as a | | | | to be a teacher. I live by a saying by Walt Disney, "If |
| motivator. This is a vital mindset for the child to have | | | | you can dream it, you can do it" and I encourage |
| because the world is not a bubble and things are going | | | | parents to help their children realize this is true. |
| to get thrown at them that will cause him or her | | | | |