Welcome to this week's Dealing With Learning Disorders Newsletter.

Featured Article

This week our Featured Expert Cindi Erickson shares about her life with ADD.

Here is some of what she wrote:

ADD may seem like a curse to some, but it really is a tremendous 'syndrome' to have. Just think, the world is your oyster and you just can't find enough hours in a day to take it all in!

All of us have some 'imperfection' that challenges us to overcome our particular 'hurdle' and learn how to function with and in spite of our 'thorn in the flesh'. Paul said, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh..." (2 Corinthians 12:7) ADD/ADHD happens to be one of those 'invisible' thorns in the flesh.

Sure, the symptoms are very visible. We're constantly on the go, excessively daydream, and often have problems with following instructions and/or finishing work. But, the 'syndrome' itself is invisible.

My son (also a fellow ADD'er) and I often talk about what our brains 'do'. The creative ideas and thoughts that rush through our minds, the 'bunny foo-foos' that overcome us during conversations. We feel blessed to have ADD. We don't know how we would function if we didn't have the cacophony of sounds, thoughts, and yes, sometimes vocal chatter, in our brains. It must be awfully lonely to be 'normal'! Thank God I'm not!

This article can be found in detail at My Life With ADD


Featured Videos

This week I posted the video interviews that I did with Featured Expert Blair Hill, on his life with Asperger's Syndrome. He talks about how his family was diagnosed and how he has learned to cope. You can see an Part I here on my YouTube channel. Part II and III are on the inside of the site. If you want to see more go here.


General Topics Discussions

This week in the we talked about a new book that is getting ready to be released by our Featured Expert, 15 year old Jennifer Smith. The book is called Dyslexia Wonders.

We talked about what we will would be doing for the Labor Day holiday and how we can make memories for our family.

Some of us shared our excitement for McCain's choice for Vice President, Sarah Palin, and how it might affect this country if McCain is chosen for president. She is mother of 5, pro-life, and has a down syndrome baby.

I love our private community where we can feel safe to talk about things that matter without feeling like the whole world is watching us.

Come join us!


Tip of the Week


Finding a system for chores is different for every family, and with
a child who has learning disabilities, it can be difficult.

While teaching a child a new chore, we tend to be more patient than
after he's been doing it for a while. Try to keep in mind, for some
children with learning disorders, some things can seem very easy for
them for the first day, and the next day you may have to teach them
from the beginning again.

Here is a way to teach a new chore, and to keep them able to do the
chore.

List chores appropriate for age and ability. Gradually work your way
up the list.
Start with short work periods, i.e., 10-20 minutes in length.
Increase the time as his/her interest grows.
Present the task in short directions and have the child repeat them.

Compliment on the job done. Try very hard not to redo it.
If the bed is not made the way you would have done it, then he did
it the way he knew best. Turn it into a teaching lesson and say,
"I like the way you did your best to make your bed, especially how
you pulled the bed spread up and tucked it in. Another good thing to
do is to lay the pillow straight, see?"

Always be prepared to redirect the child. Never take for granted
that the child remembers, but try not to hang over him while he is
doing the responsibility.

Do not allow your child to gain control of any situation.
You are to structure the tasks. If he throws a "fit" when given
responsibilities (that are appropriate for age and ability),
then he should be told,"When you are finished you may start with
your responsibilities."

Always encourage and be positive about learning new things. Don't
become impatient if it takes him longer than you think it should
to master a new skill.

Next week watch for part two of this message on responsibilities.

Have a great week!

--Robin Dicks

To learn more about how you can help your child with learning
disorders visit: DealingWithLearningDisorders.com