Jane Utley Adelizzi - Parenting Children with Learning Disabilities

Cover

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Parenting Children with LEARNING DISABILITIES

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JANE UTLEY ADELIZZI AND DIANE B. GOSS

BERGIN & GARVEY

Westport, Connecticut London

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Adelizzi, Jane Utley
Parenting children with learning disabilities / Jane Utley
Adelizzi and Diane B. Goss.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0897897722 (alk. paper)
1. Learning disabled childrenEducationParent participationHandbooks,
manuals, etc. I. Goss, Diane B. II. Title.
LC4704.5.A34 2001
649.15dc21 00064210

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.

Copyright 2001 by Jane Utley Adelizzi and Diane B. Goss

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 00064210

ISBN: 0897897722

First published in 2001

Bergin & Garvey, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881

An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.

www.greenwood.com

Printed in the United States of America

The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.481984).

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You are probably familiar with this poem anonymously written to help children memorize the days of the week. Each line seems to hold such special meaning. When we realized that we were both born on Saturday, we laughed about what an apt description came with that daySaturdays child works hard for a living! As we looked past our personal experiences in connection with the poem, we quickly recognized how well the description of Saturdays child fit the children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities who have become our collective lifes work. They worked so very hard every day in order to keep up, measure up, and compete with their peers. Their goals are often to gain the respect and admiration of their teachers, parents, and

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friends. It sounds simple to most people, but to the 10 to 20 percent of the general population with learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), or dyslexia, it can be a monumental task that requires a great deal of energy, sweat, prayer, and support. We knew this guidebook was about Saturdays child.

As we researched the origin of Saturday, and moved past the Old Testament, we learned this was the name given to the seventh day of the week in honor of the Roman god Saturn. Saturns Day seemed to represent what the Romans referred to as the learning principles. This certainly seemed significant to us, as our chief concern was with those individuals who were often challenged in their learning. Saturday seemed to symbolize the last day, the day of rest in the week. For many of us Saturday means a day away from the grind of life, the challenge of learning, the stage upon which all mistakes are publicized. Saturday can be the day to watch cartoons, color in a favorite book, pretend your bicycle is a horse, have a tea party with your dog, build a castle, or look at the pictures and not read the words. Saturday could be the reward after all of the hard work! This felt hopeful.

As the poem tells us, Saturdays child works hard for a living. The child who struggles to maintain a sense of equilibrium in her life when the sky is falling, when the headless horseman is chasing her, or when the mirror on the wall reflects a child who is dancing as fast as she can indeed works hard for a living. She works especially hard because she doesnt learn the same way that her brother, who earns As and Bs in school, learns. She has trouble reading, understanding her math, and like Alice in Wonderland, life around her looks and feels distorted and misshapen sometimes. She keeps bumping into things, both figuratively and literally. Its so difficult to explain to her mother why she feels this way. Its easier to just be quiet about it, and pray that things will become easier and clearer tomorrow. Her learning disability has been diagnosed for two years now. Her educational plan has been implemented in the eyes of special services at her elementary school, and still she feels dumb. Her mother feels frightened as she watches her daughter grow increasingly more quiet, isolated. She suspects that her daughter is depressed, but isnt sure that kids really can get depressed. Who should the mother talk to?