"The teachers said that they wanted my son in Special Ed class. I said no, he's not stupid!" This is what I overheard a woman saying while I was getting my son's hair cut in a salon. It was very insulting to hear and see this woman saying this right in front of my 12 year old son. I stood up and spoke,"Excuse me, just because a child is in a special education class doesn't mean that they are stupid. My son is in Special Ed!" The woman didn't know what to say. She looked shocked and I really hope that this incident made her feel stupid. At this point, I realized how ignorant society can be about learning disabilities. People need to be educated about learning disorders. What are learning disorders?

Learning disabilities are disorders in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language. There are many definitions out there. These disorders are very much common these days. It's good to learn how to treat them rather than blaming children unfairly for deficiencies that they can't control. Some uneducated individuals label these children as stupid or lazy because they can't read, write, do math or process information to "normal standard". Information-processing problems is a good term to use other than learning disability; it describes the disorder a lot better.

Having a learning disorder doesn't mean that a person is emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded. People with learning disorders have been described as hyperactive, distracting, inattentive, brain damaged, slow learning, dyslexic and aggressive. Individuals who have this disorder differ in many ways, but they all do share one common problem. They are unable to learn through regular teachings and they can't reach their full potential when taught in regular classrooms.

Learning disabilities are very common with children that have attention deficit disorder(ADD). This is where my son fits in. Children with ADD/ADHD may use their energy to disrupt the class and draw attention to themselves thinking they can't get in any more acceptable way. Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and isolation can be part of the way a child may feel. It is very important to diagnose this learning disorder as early as possible.

Motor skill difficulty, developmental delays, difficulty speaking; even if your child is still very young, these can be signs. Get your child tested as soon as possible by a professional. Pay attention to them academically also. If your child's teacher is constantly complaining about your child having difficulties in school, keep in mind that your child could have a learning disorder and perhaps it's not a problem with your child's discipline or willpower. Don't just automatically punish your child for doing poorly in school, have patience. Learning disabilities are lifelong and treatment would most likely be necessary throughout the child's schooling. Special Education may be necessary. The parent has to be aware as possible of what the child needs so the proper help can be offered.

Source:Children With Exceptionalities
By Margaret Winzer 1993

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