Living with Learning Disabilities

http://blog.seattlepi.com/learningdisabilities/
 
This blog will highlight the painful and detailed evolution of Zion’s disability – how we discovered it, how we navigate it, how we laugh, cry, and get mad over it. This is just one family’s struggle with learning disabilities.
 
Mizz Givens tells her family’s story from an interesting perspective as both an advocate for her son as well as a professional who works in the field of education. If you are interested in hearing some one’s else’s struggles and achievements, visit Andrea’s blog.
 
Mizz Givens (Andrea Givens)
mizz.givens@gmail.com

I am a 34-year-old wife and mother of two (editorial note — now three, Mizz Givens just had another son). My days are filled with commuting, working in the field of education, the YMCA, and the multitude of tasks that being a working wife and mother require. My downtime, if there is any, is usually spent reading, or cooking, or watching great shows on cable, because I love a good story.

My daughter Maya is gorgeous and talented and typically developing. My son Zion is charming and funny and severely learning disabled. And I can’t fix it. But I can advocate for him, I can provide supplemental services to support him, I can love him.

I go the distance for both of my children. With Zion, it’s a never-ending sprint. But I’ve got my running shoes on.

Sample Blog Post:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/learningdisabilities/archives/124273.asp

Lucky
 

My gosh I feel lucky today. I just got back setting up a training for administrators and others who work with special education students. Although the topic is heavy and frustrating and in a constant state of flux, I came away thinking about how fortunate I am.

In my day job, I get to be exposed to any number of the kabillion special education issues, and work around thoughtful and intelligent and caring people who work to solve those issues. I get to be a fly on the wall as they discuss the WASL, IEPs, transitions, supplemental services. I hear how much they care, how frustrating it can be, how rewarding it is.

I am so lucky.

If it weren’t for my day job, it would be that much harder to advocate for Zion. I’d have to learn the lingo the hard way. I wouldn’t know any of the processes. I’d have to rely on others to tell me their truth, rather than learning it for myself and being able to apply it to Zion’s situation.

I get to sit in on workshops and conferences where nationally-recognized reading specialists and other experts teach their crafts, and I take copies of the materials home, devouring them for a bit of information that might be helpful.

I get to feel hopeful.

I feel hopeful because, in this setting, I know that there are countless people who have chosen to make special education their life’s work. These are the people who help bridge the gap between what Zion can currently do and what our hopes are for him.

Today, I rest in that hope.