Now that back-to-school week has come and gone, we can all exhale together! Routine is back along with early mornings, school buses and homework. I still feel the creeping angst as the days count down to the end of August, even though I haven’t had a child in school for over 15 years!
But for many families back-to-school angst is just ramping up. As the mother of a son living with ADHD, I know. This fall, according to Statistics Canada, an estimated 500-thousand Canadian children with a learning disability are back in class and many more just starting school are being diagnosed. In fact, research shows the transition from home to school sees an increase in diagnosis by 25 per cent.
The struggle isn’t just about the classroom learning part. It’s before school. How many times up the stair to retrieve the backpack? Is your homework in there? Did you even bring it home yesterday? Have you got your lunch?
It’s during class. How many times did my boy sit behind a “privacy screen” set up on his desk to keep him focused? or be sent to “Hawaii”, which meant his desk was moved into the hall? How many times did other kids watch as he was called up for his “meds”?
How many times did homework and the journal actually make it home and once signed my me, arrive back to the teacher? How struggles to get any homework done? My son’s teachers did their best but his issues were just that issues, that negatively impact on self-image and confidence.
Today we are learning more about universe design learning and the incredible difference it makes in everyone’s education. We all learn differently but learning is especially difficult for those diagnosed with a learning disability.
So, what if we started looking at these “disabilities” more like “superpowers” and celebrated such uniqueness? That’s exactly what’s happening at the Centre for Diverse Learners, the only organization of its kind, based in Burlington but serving young people through agency partnerships throughout Greater Hamilton, Halton and beyond as the need increases.
Carolyn Rankin-Boutin, the Centre’s executive director is working to de-stigmatize and redefine a child with a learning disability as a diverse learner and intervene early in their lives.
“As a neurodiverse person myself,” she said, “I am passionate about empowering young people to navigate learning and find ways that work for them. Neurodiverse students need support to reach their potential, excel in their studies and go on to successful careers and lives”.
Carolyn is one of more than a half-million Canadians diagnosed as adults, making post-secondary education and on-the-job learning extremely difficult. So is comedian, writer, producer and director Rick Green, co-creator and co-star of the Red Green TV series, inducted into the Order of Canada for his international advocacy, sharing his own story of living with ADHD.
“While no one wants to be diagnosed with ADHD, everyone I've ever spoken to wishes they had been diagnosed years earlier. Once you understand what has been sabotaging your best efforts you can draw upon a wide range of strategies to manage the downside and tap into the potential strengths of your unique mindset”, said Green.
Rick, a sought-after speaker and entertainer, is joining forces with the Centre for Diverse Learners for a fundraising event, Celebrating NeuroDiversity, An Evening with comedian Rick Green, Thursday, September 26th at the Burlington Golf and Country Club. The event features a full-course dinner, silent auction, interactive presentation with Rick, followed by a question- and-answer session.
There are still some tickets and sponsorship opportunities available to Celebrating Diversity, An Evening with comedian Rick Green, but you are encouraged to act now! Love to see you there!
Visit: Centre for Diverse Learners Celebrate. While you are there, check out their incredible staff, programs and location of services for children and parents. By the way, despite all those struggles in school, my son Cal finally learned how to deal with his superpowers and grew up to be a brilliant and successful professional with a degree in fine arts! Still, we both wish we had known about the Centre for Diverse Learners back then.
Connie Smith,
Journalist, Volunteer
Published in The Hamilton Spectator: https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/when-a-disability-becomes-a-superpower/article_0c79d441-2ed0-5a80-9b2a-669ea1b33309.html
