Thanks Polly, on Mel's LD

[Wendy]

All the things you mentioned to help Mel get the assistance she needs has been explained to her. When Mel was little she had no patience for sitting and learning how to write her name, or so it seemed, until one day she came to me and said, "what next Mommy?" On a piece of paper she had wrote "MEL". So she did watch, and did learn, but I knew it would be at a different pace then her sister, so we did things differently. The one thing she never wanted to do was read out loud, but if I was going to read to her, I would read one page, she had to read the next one. I spent allot of time with the girls since I didn't go to work till Mel was in Junior Kindergarten. She also did not hear well from an early age, long story, but it was only at my insistance that she was tested, and found that no sound was getting through, problems were from allergies, fluid build up, and no one listening to me. Young mother, you know, what did I know? But by 5 1/2 yrs old she was very tall, and only weighed between 32-34 pds, as she by that time was sick all the time, and her ears never cleared up before the next infection came, and she no longer got a fever, having had so many infections. Sooooo, she adapted, and could read lips, they said that kids do things like that to make up for something they lack, as they don't know any different. When she finally had the ears fixed, she had to be on sulfa drugs for 3 mths, to gain some weight and clear up her ears. Then she had to learn to adjust for sounds, she was in great pain for weeks as she could hear the slightest sound and it hurt.

Then she was in speach therapy for 2 years. But she always showed a great ability to pick up things. When her big sister was learning recorder in music, we got one for Mel too. Her sister showed her the notes she was learning and every day Mel went into her bedroom and closed the door and practised. One day a few months later, she came out and played all the songs her sister was just learning in music class in Grade 4. She would tell the music teacher everytime she had her that she could play the recorder. The music teacher would say how nice that was, but didn't believe her. Then one day after hearing it so often she told Mel to next time bring her recorder in and show her. She did, and the music teacher found out that she could play all the songs that she was just teaching the grade 4's to play. So that led to Mel getting leading parts in school plays and so forth.

And when she was one and a half, my sister and I had taken our kids to see this water show, with porpoises and sea lions, where they had a couple of children come and feed the animals, and then they gave them chocolate bars for participating after. Well 2 full years later we took our kids to see the show again. When Mel seen it the first time, she only had a few words in her vocabulary, but now she was over 3 and boy did she talk. But right from the first thing they did in the show, she started to tell us what they were going to do next, she told us everything right down to the kind of chocolate bars they were going to get! Now I know that when they are little they are like little tape recorders, repeating everything we say, but what amazed me is that she remember everything visible too.

I can truly say that she has never been shy either, so she always spoke up. And as she went through school, the teachers loved her, she was never rude, but she always made her point of view known, and they respected her for that. But I really thing that for her she picked up other ways to learn as she was always an excellent student. The one thing I always helped her with was spelling, and reading. She also always took advantage of anyone who took better notes then she did, and she adapted. I have been after her to go talk to someone in that department for some time now though, but she is so stubborn. Now she wishes she had talked to them sooner, then later. Its so exciting to hear her "EXCITED", about school once again. They asked her questions about what she did when she would study and do exams and read, and I didn't even know just how bad it was for her. They will help her get what ever she needs to get to the finish line now. I think she is going to surprize herself, but not me. I have seen her do some amazing things over her lifetime, and I know she has allot more in there.

Thanks for your support, thank goodness there is help now.

Gentle hugs
Wendy

[Mars]

Hi Wendy,

Gonna try for the third time (the other two went into cyberspace never to be heard from again!!! LOL)

I also have a daughter who was diagnosed with LD (A.D.D.) while in grade school. She had a terrible time in school and quit in the ? grade. (We really don't know what grade she was in since she failed this and that throughout high school.)

I fought the system so hard that one time I had to meet with the principal on "neutral ground" so that we wouldn't attack each other! Can anyone say "intimidation"?

I finally got to meet with the group of teachers who met once per week about their "problem" children. I went prepared with the doctor's diagnosis, charts and handouts and was prepared to answer questions. I presented my information in a manner that would help the entire class as opposed to further singling out the "problem" child.

Throughout the conversation it became clear that although the teachers continued their education, they were not updated on how to handle children who had "problems". That is what the LD teachers were for. I was fighting to have her stay in the regular classroom instead of putting her in LD classes.

To make a long story short, Trisha went on to receive her GED after her son was born. She was able to take the test without going to classes. Before she was scheduled for the test, she gave the instructors the diagnosis from her doctor and was able to take the test with a few additional breaks and in a room away from distractions. She passed with extra points to spare! What a kid!

Here's to good parents and kids that continue to amaze!

[Polly]

Wendy and Mars,

Your stories just warm my heart. I love to hear about success stories!

Love,

Polly

[CAMary]

These stories warm, my heart, as well!! We are just beginning the process, but I have known my middle kid would have learning issues for awhile. Sort of a premonition, combined with my education background. I've realized he learns differently, as well. Fortunately, nowadays regular classroom teachers are much more aware and have to accomodate these kids and their needs. I know for a fact my older son's class (4th grade) has 7 diagnosed ADD students in it!! Detection is so much better that more kids are being diagnosed and receiving services....

I only hope we find the same type of success down the road...

Mary