The Missing Link for Children with Learning Disabilities by Chineme Noke

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The Missing Link for Children with Learning Disabilities
by Chineme Noke

Since my daughter was born in 1998 I have been catapaulted into a world which until then was totally alien to me - it was the world of children with disabilities. My daughter has a condition known as Williams Syndrome one of the many symptoms of which is cognitive deficiencies. What this means is that my daughter, and countless others, have extreme difficulties with the process of learning.

We reside in the UK and, as is general in the Western world, we have a very well developed State schooling system where every child is entitled to an appropriate general education. As my daughter progressed through her nursery years (kindergarten) academic learning was not too much of an issue as all learning was based on play and discovery - something that very young children are usually effortlessly good at.

However, as she began her primary education it became clear that while most children could be taught and absorbed the basics of literacy and numeracy through the regular strategy-based approach, my daughter and a few others within the school could not. Therein began my particular quest for knowledge about what part cognition played in our ability to learn.

I am a very experienced solicitor (attorney) and so the research required was not unduly daunting to me, but what I found to be extremely frustrating was the institutional lack of understanding or acceptance by the relevant authorities of what it was that our cognitively challenged children required in order to progress; even where this could be established, there was a fervent resistance to providing what was required as it was outside of their norm.

By then I had joined online international listserves of organisations that shared a common interest - in Williams Syndrome and one advising on advocating for the educational needs of our challenged children - and I found that the issues I was confronted with were indeed universal within State systems.

I had found my driving passion - my purpose and I launched into my awareness raising campaign within my particular locality with a vengeance.

As my daughter's needs grew (in comparison with her peer group at her school) it became clear to me that I had an almighty battle on my hands. Doors were closed to what I had to say about the needs of my child (and countless others whom for whatever reason simply did not have a voice). I knew that my job within the corporate sector disallowed me the time required to be there for my daughter and continue fighting for the type of education that I knew she needed in order to simply be able to read and write.

I then took a leap of faith and abandoned my career in search of something that I could do from home but which would still bring in the significant income I required to continue caring for my daughter and fighting the good fight for the education and teaching that she required. That is when I discovered internet marketing. I can now work from home while being on call for my daughter and be able to correspond with relevant agencies concerning her educational needs - this simply would not be possible on a regular job.

I would love to hear from anyone out there who may have had some experience of what I describe above - perhaps through your own child, your extended family or friends or neighbours.

I must say that after four years of determined action, which included a great deal of emotional turmoil, things are looking up for my own daughter. There is still much to do for other children out there and I will be doing my bit to make that happen. Spreading awareness is a valuable step. Please help me to do that.

Chineme Noke

PS: One of the internet marketing programs that allows me to work from home in order to be able to pursue my passion with purpose can be found at http://theworksmartclub.biz.

Destiny is not a matter of chance - it is a matter of choice.

Author's Biography:

Chineme Noke is a solicitor who left her high flying legal career and set up an internet business from the comfort of her own home in order to be able to spend more time with her young daughter and be able to advocate on her behalf for the educational processes she requires in order to be able to simply read and write.

Posted on: September 23,2008

Email: chineme2@aol.com
Website: http://theworksmartclub.biz