A Smarter Approach to Learning

A partner at my firm was asking me about Leahness and her epilepsy a few months ago. I think she feels a slight connection to me because she has a daughter with dyslexia. Although they are two completely different disabilities, I am glad she finds it easy to talk to me about troubles associated with have a child with a disability. She asked me if Leahness was on the 504 program at school. Apparently her teenager is on this state program. I shied away from it. That's me. I instantly thought, "Special Needs Program" and felt sick to my stomach. But then I began thinking...this is a VERY successful woman, her husband is also a very successful attorney and she was brave enough to share with me that her daughter has a learning disability and is not ashamed that she is getting state provided help. I still felt trepidation. I couldn't shake this same feeling that Leahness's epilepsy will suddenly disappear and I won't have to worry about such things as learning problems. She has been suffering in school. Her mid-year progress report of 80's and 90's with a few low 70's seemed good enough, but bothered me at the same time. Math and Reading were her two low points. It was of major concern to her teacher. She was exhibiting a lot of behavioral problems when these subjects were being taught. She was manipulating the teacher into not having to participate in these areas of the teaching day. The teacher was LETTING her manipulate her too. But that's a whole other blog post!!! ARGH, this teacher!!

Anyway, I digress...

So I kept putting off bringing up the section 504 program. I didn't want to admit that my daughter needed any help at all. She is a very smart girl. Very bright and very in tune with learning. Very ready and very willing to learn...well most of the time that is. I somehow was telling myself, she can get past this problem and still do well. I am not the sort of mother who says, "just pass, that's all I want". I am the type of mother who expects the very best in everything she pursues. It's very important to me that Leahness does well in school. But again, I didn't want to admit to myself she might need a little extra help to do that.

Without bringing it up myself, her counselor at school sent home literature about the program. It clearly stated that it is NOT Special Education. It is simply a number of measures taken in the classroom, specially suited and tailored to Leahness's learning needs. The teacher, counselor, her Neurologist and myself come up with a game plan to help her succeed. Hey, if that is what it takes, bring it on folks! I had been slow in getting my feet wet with this, but now that I am more knowledgeable about it, I can't believe I put it off for so long.

Leahness's key points are time, attention and understanding. She needs extra time. She requires more time on timed tests and she does 100%. Given a math test to complete in 3 minutes, she scores somewhere around 60-75%. Given the same test and given as much time as she needs, she scores a perfect 100%. She understands the work; she gets it, she just needs to work it out the way she works it out and not the way 80% of kids do. She has her own way of learning and reverberating the knowledge. Einstein was the same way. He knew so much to be true, but it took him a really long time to get it down the correct way. EINSTEIN people!

Another special feature of her tailored program is that if she wishes, she can stop everything and go talk to the counselor. She has a difficult time after she has a seizure dealing with the children that surround her. She thinks they are looking at her and thinks she is strange. If this happens, she is able to approach the teacher and ask to see the counselor at any time.

She is also able to ask to do something different from the class if she is having trouble doing a certain task. She will still have to complete the task, but she able to when she feels more comfortable and will have access to more one-on-one help. She thrives in a one-on-one situation. Which only makes me feel even more guilty I can't afford to send her to Circle School or better yet home school her. But I'm hoping this program will help her thrive. If the school is willing, so am I.

So in all, this is an amazing situation. Something I was so afraid of, putting her into a category, was something that is a gift. I don't EVER want her to labeled anything more than she has already been. She is an epileptic child, but she is so unique. Even her type of epilepsy is unique. Not that this is something to be proud of. It's just who she is. She is incredible. To be able to learn anything at all having her condition still floors me. Adults take health problems and blame their lack of ambition on it. Kids have conditions and still thrive. A lot of people see it as a bad thing. These kids, the kids with learning disabilities that do so well despite their setbacks, are completely awe-inspiring to me. I think to myself, what would they be capable of if they didn't have something to set them back. They thrive even with the hardest circumstances, that is amazing. I can't imagine trying to learn adding and subtracting while all of a sudden my brain decides to shut off and on whenever it feels like it. I would probably give up. But my girl keeps going. Lots of kids keep going, without making excuses. That's why I didn't want this program. I didn't want it to look like I was making excuses for poor learning. But I know it's important for her. It's important in case she wants to maybe perhaps someday elaborate on E=MC2!