I would like to see everyone brainstorm on realistic solutions to the problems that LD &/or ADHD people face…. from school to the workplace.
PROBLEM:
I think one problem has been that most of us that know what is going on are scattered and isolated. Or the parents are seen as “mother’s from hell.” (check mothersfromhell2.org) What’s worse is in most cases the teachers that say anything agaisnt the status quo of the “system” are seen as trouble makers, insubordinate, and problamatic. At least that is what I found in the rural Georgia county I teach in. They black balled me, have written me reprimands, and done enough to me verbally that I could have sued…. unfortunately it is hard to prove work harrassment. I plan to keep in touch with the hard working parents and advocate some how by long distance for a while. As far as going to the legislature, that has been done, where the problem is is more of a check and balnce system to find out what is REALLY going on. The laws are in [place]; they are either not understood, not known, or ignored. I think if all of us focus on this, we can find solutions.
IDEA:
I’d love to start up my own group.(of advocates): a GROUP THAT WOULD RESPOND TO ANY INQUIRY OR CRY FOR HELP, THEN GO OVER THE SITUATION AT THE SCHOOL OR WORKPLACE WITH A FINE TOOTHED COMB. Next would come information pertaining to the disability, mediation if needed and legal action if all else fails. (BY THE WAY, THIS IS WHAT THE OCR OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO DO, but they did not respond to my plea. In fact I was told at one point that I had a “personality conflict with my superiors” and that they do not handle that. One the positive, the OCR advocates in North Dakota were excellent.) If every state had an organized group of advocates that really know what it is like to be “misunderstood” (LD helping LD?) with a network that could cover anyones request, then we could make a real impact.
Georgia
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Hi AA,
I thought I recognized you from the Yahoo Message board for ADD.
I’m in Northern, VA.
Have you spoken to the people at LDA yet? I’d love to help out if I can.
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Wow this is a very interesting thread! I’m always feeling like I want to advocate or get involved with changing the system, but I know what LDMom means—I have a hard time understanding all of that legislative/political stuff. My sister has a Masters degree in “Public Policy”, I give her a lot of credit, I’d sink in that program!!
AA and LDMom, it’s interesting that you guys are in Northern Va., my father-in-law lives in Alexandria. My husband and I live in New Jersey, but we visit him once in a while. Also, being near the DC area will give you guys a leg up because you’re so close to many of the federal offices of these organizations if you choose to take up with Georgia’s ideas. I sure wish I could be that assertive.
Good luck!!
Christine
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All I can say is What a wonderful idea… I hope you can get something started. I am so overwhelmed as to how many LD/ADD people are out there in need of help.
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Northern Va. is also the home of LD OnLine of course! Wave as you go by the WETA building off of 395 in Shirlington :)
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I am an adult Learning Disabilities Specialist in Saskatchewan, Canada. I also have ADD and have first-hand knowledge of the frustrations of going to school and working. That being said, this forum works well. I am in the process of creating a self-help group for the students in the technical school where I work. It is my experience that once students become assessed (what I do), there is little follow-up. Frequently, my recommendations to the student are passed over and the student is only prepared to accept accomodations where they have no personal effort. i.e. extra time, calculators, quiet room. This creates a system where the student possesses learned helplessness which will not “fix” the problem but make it worse. It may seem self-evident but I tell my students that they are the owners of their disability and that they are the only ones who can make the world sensible to them. I do not own their disability. I do not wish to take responsibility for their disability; I am too busy dealing with my own thank you.
I believe in self-help, as the group process offers insights that will not be forthcoming in any “expert” situation. When I speak to my students as a “Specialist”, they hear me, nod and continue to do the things that did not work for them. When I speak to them as a person with ADD, they listen in a different way, nod and attempt different things. The self-help group I am creating is based on the familiar 12 step programs - this program does not discriminate against anyone - teachers, students, LD, ADD, ADHD, or someone who believes they are having difficulty learning. There is no formal assessment required - just a sense that the student/teacher cannot learn in a “normal” way. I am in the process of writing the 12 steps to habilitation of Learning Disorders. (It is not ‘re’-habilitation, as it is my belief that we never learned it in the first place, so how can we be rehabilitated?). Each week, a new chair of the group is selected to run the next meeting and research some aspect of learning problems - focusing on solutions that work.
Is this a solution? I don’t know. But my ADD mind tells me (impulsively) that somethings needs to be done - now!
Cheers
Remember: Good Skill! You don’t need luck, you have skill!!!!
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Dan,
That sounds like such a great idea.
I’ve often thought of doing something like that too, something sort of Dale Carnegie-esk, I guess.
How did you come up with your 12 steps? Are they based on the AA twelve steps or something different?
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Yes. They are based on the 12 steps from virtually every program that advocates them. I am still refining the steps and it is sometimes difficult to actually write 12 of them but …The steps are based on self-actualization. The idea that we are the rowers of our own boats, the pullers of our own strings and whatever other metaphor exists. The first step for most AA, NA GA etc. program is to admit that you are powerless over your addiction and that you must turn yourself over to a power greater than yourself to battle the illness. One: ADD/ADHD/LD are not addictions and are not illnesses.
Two: The power greater than oneself has often been a part of the problem (I am not talking about God here, but the power of others to help and hinder)
While I use the model for group process (the power greater than oneself), the individual must admit that they have a problem and are prepared to do whatever it takes to lessen the effect of the problem. This is roughly step one.
Remember: The path to enlightenment must first lead to the enlighten switch.
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Dan,
I see some validity in what you are doing with your adult students. And quite frankly, Canada may have better services for LD/ADHD adults. I don’t know. I feel that the goal for most of us is to BE UNDERSTOOD AND TO UNDERSTAND. I think 12 steps is a little high for most LD/ADHD people. Personally, I worked in a drug and rehab center for Alcoholics for 4 years, and take a little offense in using the 12 step method. it is usually used in some aspect of recovery. I would suggest that you limit the steps to 4 - 5 and give an acronym to aid the memory.
KAUSE
I. Know your LD/ADHD.
II. Understand your strengths and weaknessess (limitations)
III.Advocate for your self.
IV.Seek help AND/OR SUPPORT when needed.
V. Empowerment comes when you are UNDERSTOOD AND WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND!
Of course what we are most concerned with is the lack of knowledge, support and services for adults with LD/ADHD. Most of us have fought the battle alone and with no support. I have battle scars to prove it… and continue to fight against ignorance of the non-LD/ADHD world.Believe me, I own my disability!! When I forget where my doctors office is and drive in circles for 30 minutes (like I did today), I definitly have a neon sign over my head reading : I HAVE A DISABILITY.
Thanks for reading,
Georgia
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Georgia, definately start your own group. Devise a mission statement. Organize a steering comittee/intersanctum. Make noise in your community. Hold weekly meetings for support and advocacy. Keep it grass roots. I was a member of NYS Brai Injury assoc. but I believe the group was somewhat subverted to do the bidding for professionals. They seemed to advocate for brain injury but not the brain injured. Thats why I’d suggest you limit membership to sufferers and their friend and families. DO IT! Ball
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Georgia currently I’m a student in independent studies. Previously I own an advertising business. What’s your thing?
Georgia,
I’m glad you started this thread too!
AA, I think it’s great that you’re going to talk to your local LDA chapter about starting a group to help LD adults. And Georgia, I wish I could do what you want to do. I’m not sure I’d be able to comprehend all of the legislation though.
Keep us posted.
By the way, AA are you in the DC metro area? I’m not sure if I’m confusing you with someone else or not.
Thanks!