Issue # 36 / August 2003

"Cat black is the."
Real Life Monthly

By: Sandy Pascual

         "Cat Black is The, that's what I see..."

         "Umm, The Black Cat is, if I look again…"

         …That's how Jamie Suarez, 23, sees the sentence "The Cat is Black." Since she was a child, Jamie has lived with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Dyslexia.

         The National Institute of Health's statistics show Jamie isn't alone. One in seven Americans have some type of learning disability occurring in different forms: visual, auditory, motor control, communication, logic, etc. It shouldn't be confused with other disabilities including mental retardation, autism, deafness, blindness, behavioral disabilities, or with lack of educational opportunities such as school changes, frequent absences or ESOL.

         As a child Jamie struggled with reading/writing and spelling/grammar. No matter how hard she studied, she was never an "A" student.

         "I felt dumb, useless; often wondering if I'd become an accountant, like I dreamed," said Jamie. "Everyone made me doubt myself, always discouraging and teasing me. 'You're LD, you can't do it!' That's all I ever heard. I needed encouragement, and found LDA, who helped me realized I could do it. Now I'm graduating with my B.A. in Accounting."

         The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) was formed in 1964 by a group of parents of children with learning disabilities. Since then, it's grown to over 50,000 members with state chapters in all 50 states, becoming the largest non-profit learning disability volunteer-organization.

         "We are an association that has a membership of LD adults, parents and family members of individuals with learning disabilities, professionals who work with children or adults with LD and those individuals who are friends of the association and our mission," explains Carolyn Tavel, President Florida's LDA.

         It's not surprising that individuals with learning disabilities have feelings of anxiety and self-doubt when thinking about their future. But with a little self-esteem boost, and educational assistance from LDA, like Jamie, dreams and goals can become reality.

         "If it wasn't for LDA, I wouldn't have made it this far. Their strategies helped me study and gain confidence at school, so I want to share them with the readers," said Jamie.

1. Understand your disability and what you need as a student.

2. Become a self-advocate; learn your legal rights.

3. Take "basic skills" courses: reading, writing/spelling, math, study-skills and computers.

4. Meet with instructors/counselors before exams; discuss what you've learned and test-taking problems.

5. Read ahead before class; be prepared.

6. Audiotape lectures or request notetakers.

7. Understand essay assignments before brain-storming; write the body before the introduction and conclusion; more importantly don't be embarrassed to ask someone to proofread.

         "I believe LD students are harder working, maybe because we have something to prove. Success isn't an effortless task, but keep reminding yourself that you CAN do it, it's a learning and growing process. LDA can help you regain self-esteem. Look what it can accomplish," said Jamie.

For more information contact:

LDA-Florida
Carolyn C. Tavel, President
331 East Henry Street
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Office: 941-637-8957
Email: ldaf00@sunline.net
http://www.lda-fl.org/default.htm

Miami Office:
Linda Johnson
592 NE 60 St
Miami, FL 33137

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