HI all.
whenever we admit our kids to school, we undergo a sense of euphoria... In bollywood style, "padh-likhkar badaa aadmi banega" and so on and so forth. Usually the school years pass by quickly even b4 we actually realize it!!
But what happens when there is a stumbling block? What happens if ur child is unable to study (not because he doesnt want to).... is subjected to humiliation in class and back at home? Well its time we have a reality check.
Aamir Khan had popularised Learning disability via his movie 'tare zameen par'. The young Ishaaan in the movie was the butt of jokes and ridicule till he was intervened.....
But such awareness is just a small beginning. We have a long way to go. Early diagnosis of children is the key to successful rehabilitation of children with LD.
(read more on Understanding and Supporting Learning Difficulties
by: Ms Areena Loo, Bridge Learning)
I had this child all of 8 yrs visiting me for a complete evaluation. He presented a picture.... he was smart, witty and quick to respond to any query abt anything under the sky.He apparently was very good in sports! But when it came to reading and writing skills, he showed classic symptoms of LD. His shocked mother only said " why dint anyone tell me about this problem while i kept reprimanding him for his studies?"
It is surprising that though we ve come a long way since the establishment of Maharashtra Dyslexia Association, many school teachers, principals and peadiatricians and far from being aware of signs and symptoms of LD.
The catch here is the school boards (SSC, CBSE and ICSE) accept only reports from SIOn and Nair hospital and they inturn do not assess a child without a refferal letter from school! Most school principals whom i ve come across in my career DO NOT give any such letter and the child is left to fend for himself. Some manage by attending therapies and remedial education, but the severely afftected suffer the most due to apathy of a few.
Its time we wake up. Lets look around us. Most children with LD ve poor attention span and are very distracted. They sometimes ve history of delayed motor milestones. These are red flags and an alert teacher or parent can make the most of it and prevent further debilitating effects.
PLEASE BE ALERT!
18-4-12
REcent updtae from the child:
As expected the school 'refused' to give a letter for his official diagnosis to the hospital, which now refuses to conduct evaluation. Occupational therapy assessment is done with and LD (with some features of ADHD......quite common) is confirmed. His therapy has been initiated, but he needs help, i.e the facilities provided by the board.
My question to these schools, ' Why is the letter not given to the child? Its his right to ve a proper education.' There are very negligible schools for slow learners and those with scholastic backwardness...... where do these kids go, if the schools where they r in doesnt support them. I know that there r false positive cases too but most of these children are innocent victims and targetted for no fault of theirs. Why do they ve to suffer humiliation in class just because they ve some perception problems making reading and writing difficult for them?
AWARENESS is the need of the hour. ACCEPTANCE...... first by the parents then teachers and then classmates (through teachers) is very important, if the chld with LD has to have a normal school life.
I hope better sense prevails.
whenever we admit our kids to school, we undergo a sense of euphoria... In bollywood style, "padh-likhkar badaa aadmi banega" and so on and so forth. Usually the school years pass by quickly even b4 we actually realize it!!
But what happens when there is a stumbling block? What happens if ur child is unable to study (not because he doesnt want to).... is subjected to humiliation in class and back at home? Well its time we have a reality check.
Aamir Khan had popularised Learning disability via his movie 'tare zameen par'. The young Ishaaan in the movie was the butt of jokes and ridicule till he was intervened.....
But such awareness is just a small beginning. We have a long way to go. Early diagnosis of children is the key to successful rehabilitation of children with LD.
(read more on Understanding and Supporting Learning Difficulties
by: Ms Areena Loo, Bridge Learning)
I had this child all of 8 yrs visiting me for a complete evaluation. He presented a picture.... he was smart, witty and quick to respond to any query abt anything under the sky.He apparently was very good in sports! But when it came to reading and writing skills, he showed classic symptoms of LD. His shocked mother only said " why dint anyone tell me about this problem while i kept reprimanding him for his studies?"
It is surprising that though we ve come a long way since the establishment of Maharashtra Dyslexia Association, many school teachers, principals and peadiatricians and far from being aware of signs and symptoms of LD.
The catch here is the school boards (SSC, CBSE and ICSE) accept only reports from SIOn and Nair hospital and they inturn do not assess a child without a refferal letter from school! Most school principals whom i ve come across in my career DO NOT give any such letter and the child is left to fend for himself. Some manage by attending therapies and remedial education, but the severely afftected suffer the most due to apathy of a few.
Its time we wake up. Lets look around us. Most children with LD ve poor attention span and are very distracted. They sometimes ve history of delayed motor milestones. These are red flags and an alert teacher or parent can make the most of it and prevent further debilitating effects.
PLEASE BE ALERT!
18-4-12
REcent updtae from the child:
As expected the school 'refused' to give a letter for his official diagnosis to the hospital, which now refuses to conduct evaluation. Occupational therapy assessment is done with and LD (with some features of ADHD......quite common) is confirmed. His therapy has been initiated, but he needs help, i.e the facilities provided by the board.
My question to these schools, ' Why is the letter not given to the child? Its his right to ve a proper education.' There are very negligible schools for slow learners and those with scholastic backwardness...... where do these kids go, if the schools where they r in doesnt support them. I know that there r false positive cases too but most of these children are innocent victims and targetted for no fault of theirs. Why do they ve to suffer humiliation in class just because they ve some perception problems making reading and writing difficult for them?
AWARENESS is the need of the hour. ACCEPTANCE...... first by the parents then teachers and then classmates (through teachers) is very important, if the chld with LD has to have a normal school life.
I hope better sense prevails.
