Comments on: The Dyslexic Label and Low Self-Esteem http://dyslexicbrian.com/things-of-interest/the-dyslexic-label-and-low-self-esteem/ re-Inventing Dyslexia Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mental Disorders 101 http://dyslexicbrian.com/things-of-interest/the-dyslexic-label-and-low-self-esteem/comment-page-1/#comment-859 Mental Disorders 101 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:09:34 +0000 http://dyslexicbrian.com/?p=1343#comment-859 <strong>The Dyslexic Label and Low Self-Esteem | Dyslexic Brian - The ......</strong> I found your entry interesting do I've added a Trackback to it on my <a href="http://www.mentaldisorders101.com/item_1501594_the-bdyslexic-b-label-and-low-self-esteem-bdyslexic-b-brian-the-b-b" rel="nofollow">weblog</a> :)... The Dyslexic Label and Low Self-Esteem | Dyslexic Brian – The ……

I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :) …

]]> By: Sue O. http://dyslexicbrian.com/things-of-interest/the-dyslexic-label-and-low-self-esteem/comment-page-1/#comment-444 Sue O. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:01:05 +0000 http://dyslexicbrian.com/?p=1343#comment-444 I have a son that has been labeled "dyslexic." It was diagnosed at a young age, but, with our blessing, the elementary school which he attended decided not to put him is special programs until the year before attending middle school. Reasons varied, but the main reason we kept him out was our confidence in the teachers at the school and their ability to teach children at all levels. It became necessary to enrole him in special programs as he was leaving the school so that he could receive the benefits from the state for test taking etc., at the higher level. It is interesting to note that in that year that he began attending special classes is when he began calling himself "stupid." Since our son was a baby we have always felt he was extremely intelligent, but definately an "out of the box" thinker. Very much in contrast to our older daughter who has been enrolled in advanced level classes since a young age. We raised them the same with regard to presenting them with books and reading materials since babies, but it was always clear to us how different they were; our daughter taking to the books and reading the words along with the pictures, and our son who looked at the pictures and made up the words. She is by far less imaginative and creative. I have no doubt that both children will oneday be successful. Although these school years are extrememly difficult for my son, I see his success coming much easier later in life than for my daughter. He has already experienced so many struggles. I like to refer to his dyslexia as a gift from God. It is a bgattle that he fights daily, but it has made him a much stronger individual as he is learing ways to get around it. His social abilities and his athleticism make him strong and he has a very warm and tender personality that make him a joy to be around. It is clear to me that the label itself can be damaging, but at least in our school system the label is necessary to get the benefits of a fair education. Teachers and classrooms today are so boxed in, and much of this is due to the requirements placed on them for state testing. But there are good teachers out there and that is one of the reasons our son is suviving his label. He now beginning to understand his strengths and how to use them, so hopefully in the years to come his dyslexia will be just a small piece to a very strong person. I have a son that has been labeled “dyslexic.” It was diagnosed at a young age, but, with our blessing, the elementary school which he attended decided not to put him is special programs until the year before attending middle school. Reasons varied, but the main reason we kept him out was our confidence in the teachers at the school and their ability to teach children at all levels. It became necessary to enrole him in special programs as he was leaving the school so that he could receive the benefits from the state for test taking etc., at the higher level. It is interesting to note that in that year that he began attending special classes is when he began calling himself “stupid.” Since our son was a baby we have always felt he was extremely intelligent, but definately an “out of the box” thinker. Very much in contrast to our older daughter who has been enrolled in advanced level classes since a young age. We raised them the same with regard to presenting them with books and reading materials since babies, but it was always clear to us how different they were; our daughter taking to the books and reading the words along with the pictures, and our son who looked at the pictures and made up the words. She is by far less imaginative and creative. I have no doubt that both children will oneday be successful. Although these school years are extrememly difficult for my son, I see his success coming much easier later in life than for my daughter. He has already experienced so many struggles. I like to refer to his dyslexia as a gift from God. It is a bgattle that he fights daily, but it has made him a much stronger individual as he is learing ways to get around it. His social abilities and his athleticism make him strong and he has a very warm and tender personality that make him a joy to be around. It is clear to me that the label itself can be damaging, but at least in our school system the label is necessary to get the benefits of a fair education. Teachers and classrooms today are so boxed in, and much of this is due to the requirements placed on them for state testing. But there are good teachers out there and that is one of the reasons our son is suviving his label. He now beginning to understand his strengths and how to use them, so hopefully in the years to come his dyslexia will be just a small piece to a very strong person.

]]> By: Scott Rickert http://dyslexicbrian.com/things-of-interest/the-dyslexic-label-and-low-self-esteem/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Scott Rickert Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:37:47 +0000 http://dyslexicbrian.com/?p=1343#comment-159 Interesting article and comment by Charlotte. My experiences are very similar to what Charlotte describes, children don't view the diagnosis as a "label" if it is handeled correctly. All too often, parents and educators "label" the child instead of labeling the phenomena with which they are contending. So instead of calling Mike a Dyslexic kid, we acknowledge that he is a child who is having trouble with reading. Labeling is reductionistic. It oversimplifies kids. The practice overlooks their richness, their complexity, their strengths, and their striking originality. Labeling can be dehumanizing; it can consume a person's total identity. It is especially concerning to me when I hear people say, "I am ADD." Can you imagine someone proclaiming, "I am bronchial asthma"? Interesting article and comment by Charlotte. My experiences are very similar to what Charlotte describes, children don’t view the diagnosis as a “label” if it is handeled correctly. All too often, parents and educators “label” the child instead of labeling the phenomena with which they are contending. So instead of calling Mike a Dyslexic kid, we acknowledge that he is a child who is having trouble with reading. Labeling is reductionistic. It oversimplifies kids. The practice overlooks their richness, their complexity, their strengths, and their striking originality. Labeling can be dehumanizing; it can consume a person’s total identity. It is especially concerning to me when I hear people say, “I am ADD.” Can you imagine someone proclaiming, “I am bronchial asthma”?

]]> By: Charlotte Mann http://dyslexicbrian.com/things-of-interest/the-dyslexic-label-and-low-self-esteem/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Charlotte Mann Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:56:04 +0000 http://dyslexicbrian.com/?p=1343#comment-97 Giving a child the label 'dyslexic' can go either way in my experience. As you observed, a lot depends on how the parents react to it. I have worked with families who have been very positive about their child being diagnosed as dyslexic and the child has blossomed. Others get anxious and it rubs off on the child. Some parents are dyslexic themselves and may have had a bad experience at school themselves. The important thing is to educate the parents on how to manage their child's dyslexia and on how important it is to be positive and encourage their children to participate in activities that they succeed in, be it art, drama or football! Giving a child the label ‘dyslexic’ can go either way in my experience. As you observed, a lot depends on how the parents react to it.
I have worked with families who have been very positive about their child being diagnosed as dyslexic and the child has blossomed. Others get anxious and it rubs off on the child. Some parents are dyslexic themselves and may have had a bad experience at school themselves.
The important thing is to educate the parents on how to manage their child’s dyslexia and on how important it is to be positive and encourage their children to participate in activities that they succeed in, be it art, drama or football!

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