[NIFL-LD:3889] RE: adhd

From: Marie Doerner (mdoerner@sdccd.cc.ca.us)
Date: Mon Feb 04 2002 - 12:05:34 EST


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From: Marie Doerner <mdoerner@sdccd.cc.ca.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-LD:3889] RE: adhd
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Clif's statement:
I think you would agree that there is absolutely NO benefit to having ADHD. 
..Who would get up in the morning and say to them selves, " I just can't
wait to 
go to school so I can get into trouble..." 

My response:

I absolutely disagree with the first idea and totally agree with the second.
I consider myself lucky that my first teaching experience in Special Ed was
at a wonderful school, Landmark West. We had students with extreme learning
disabilities. However, we had parents with those same "disabilities" who
were both rich and famous. The first time a parent jumped up and sat on top
of my desk, I knew that this was the case. However, the parents used their
ADHD and their strengths to great advantage.

The difficulty comes when we require students to sit for six hours a day for
12 years of their lives and, in addition, to learn at the same speed and in
the same way as everyone else. My Landmark parents were imaginative,
impulsive, passionate, creative and perceptive. They were successful actors,
writers, directors and foremen. They ran companies and organizations. True,
they hired accountants and secretaries to organize their lives, but they
were and are success stories.

This helps me respect my students and give them hope for success.
Marie



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