Labels

There is a lot of resistance to labels (aka diagnosis) dislike of labels is often claimed as an excuse to not take action.

Teachers warn against labels if it suits their agenda to.  Parents claim to not like labels in an effort to cover up their denial that there is a learning difference.

I do understand this thinking.  But the slight weight a label carries is not heavier than the weight of not dealing with a potential diagnosis. 

A wise parent will want to know and understand as much about the way their child's brain works as possible.

I remember in the 1970's the classes in elementary school labeled classes L. D. (for learning disabled).  As with many things about education at that time it was ridiculous in retrospect to single out children, putting them in a separate room with all different behavioral issues and a teacher who may or may not have been qualified to work with them (I'm not talking about official credentials, I'm talking about personality traits that make one able to succeed at working with learning differences).  A lot has changed (thankfully). 

Mainstreaming,  putting children with learning differences in a regular classroom for the most part, is not always in everyone's best interest but I do agree that children need to be exposed to all different types of people, this is part of the goal of education.

Still, I see the way my daughter is being taught and I know that 1 hour a day of the Orton Gillingham method with a tutor who may or may not even be using a proven method would not have ever really been enough.  he would not have been reading at grade level by the end of the year with only that to help her.

One of the statisics I have heard about dyslexia is that the dyslexic child is working 4 times harder in the regular classroom than everyone else.  So if you are taking them through this, getting the 1 hour or so a day and then putting tutoring on top of that, by the fifth grade they are burnt out.

I believe this.

Dont be afraid of the diagnosis.  It is more than a street sign, it is a map to take your child to a place where they can succeed.