when did you tell your child...

It was gradual. Talked a bit about it before the various assessments (kinder, 1st and 2nd). Talked a bit about it when it was put on an IEP (May of 1st grade) and had to start going to resource. Talked a bit about it when he spent a few days a private LD school as part of their application process (2nd grade). Talked a bit about it when he was accepted to that school and he learned he would not be returning to public school the next year. And now at the LD school, they talk about it every day.

I told him at first we need to see how you learn, then we found out you learn differently than the majority of kids, your brain is structured in a different way, then the public school is not equipped to teach kids who learn differently, then you are going to go to a school where the teachers have specialized training and specialized programs so they can teach kids who learn differently.

I told him the medication helps his brain work so he can learn school things. I told him he’s going to have to work harder than the majority of kids no matter what. I told him his special brain also makes him excel at certain things - building things, spatial stuff, analytical stuff, memorizing things, thinking outside the box, chess.

As soon as the neuropsych evaluation was complete. In age appropriate language of course. As time goes on (its been 3 years now!) we add information. I saw sally shaywitz speak last year on dyslexia and my son was so interested in what I had learned. He’s also at a special school where things are discussed so openly.