Return-Path: <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g1566Tu09434; Tue, 5 Feb 2002 01:06:30 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 01:06:30 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.2.20020205002404.00a4cb20@mail> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: clifwillard <clifwillard@home.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-LD:3892] RE: adhd X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Status: O Content-Length: 3540 Lines: 62 Tom wrote, "What I sense from Marie is an !acceptance! of the student for who she or he is, and an appreciation of the student's uniqueness. In such an environment, there is little a person has to cope with; symptoms are seen as attributes like many others that each of us have; labels begin to evaporate." It seems more like a lack of understanding of the student and the difficulties that each with ADHD and a reading disability have to cope with all day, every day. It is important that the child accept his or her disability and recognize that the symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, hyper-cognition and internal structure are not going away. Some may like to believe that these symptoms are better labeled "unique" but the real world says otherwise. Being viewed as different is being viewed as different no matter what you call it. And I for one do not feel that trying to make something I do not like "ok" before I can accept it. It is not ok. I am very quick to say to clients that it (ADHD, RD) is a bum deal. Now that we accept that, what can you do to minimize the amount you are disabled by the symptoms of the disability. That works very well. Acceptance is acknowledging the fact of the facts. You do not have to like it and it does not have to be ok before you can acknowledge the fact of the facts. I do NOT see the hyperactivity, inattentiveness, hyper-cognition, difficulties with internal structure, or a reading disability as the disability. They are symptoms that have multiple causes that one must deal with. The disability (ADHD) is the lack of stimulation. A reading disability I believe in most cases a language perception deficit in reading. That works and identifies the problem and also provides direction to a solution. No matter how you cut it, it is not ok to have ADHD or a "language perception deficit in reading." How many people who actually have these disabilities would honestly believe that it is in any way positive or appreciate not having the difficulties acknowledged by those they put their trust in? There some very misguided person promoting the, "Gift of Dyslexia." What bunk and how destructive. But what a money maker. Promise a cure and they will come with their checkbooks open. All these promises to cure, "you can learn to read like everybody else" is the most inhumane thing I can think of. I hear the stories everyday. I don't understand why educators cannot accept that the person has a disability, teach them the best accommodations, educate the rest of the students about the disability and let them learn, be part of the class, and develop normally. How perception can be so ignored is frankly beyond me. For Sally Shaywatz to state that the "Auditory Analysis Test" tests phonetic awareness only is just stupid. That may be harsh but that is exactly what it is, just plain stupid. Anyway, ADHD, a language perception deficit in reading is NOT a present no matter what some might want to believe. Try thinking "unique" when everyone is laughing at you because you stumbled over a word or many when you were reading. It doesn't change when you are an adult. The general population believes that if you have a disability you are less competent. Euphemisms support that misbelief. Question. How do you test for a lack of phonetic awareness? What is it you do that identifies this as the cause? What are the name of some Phonetic Awareness Tests? I would like to look at them, even take some. Clif NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM
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