October is Learning Disabilities (LD) Awareness Month!
Disclaimer: This is a guest post provided by Understood.org.
This October, Understood.org has launched the #BeUnderstood campaign in support of Learning Disabilities (LD) Awareness Month in October, and to raise awareness about kids with learning and attention issues.
Families may not understand just how important it is to find the right help and support to guide both parents and children through it. It’s only natural for parents to want the best for their children but academic success, while important, isn’t the end goal. What we really all should strive for is a happy and fulfilling life. With encouragement and the right support, children with learning and attention issues can build a strong sense of self-confidence and a solid foundation for lifelong success.
By understanding the different types of learning disorders and their signs, you can pinpoint the specific challenges your child faces and find a treatment program that works. Our job as parents is not to “fix” the learning and attention issues, but to give our children the social and emotional tools they need to work through challenges. In the long run, facing and overpowering a challenge such as learning and attention issues can help these children grow stronger and more resilient.
In the U.S., 1 in 5 children struggles with brain-based learning and attention issues that affect reading, writing, math, focus and organization. These issues are a lot more common than most people think, and while learning and attention issues may not be as visible as other health issues, they’re just as real. The goal of #BeUnderstood is to generate awareness about learning and attention issues and encourage people who are seeing or experiencing signs of learning and attention issues to visit Understood.org, learn about these issues, and take that crucial first step in getting their kids the help they need to thrive in school, at home and in life.
Understand what you’re seeing – It’s hard to see your child struggle and not know why. Without understanding the reasons for his behavior, you may even come to some wrong conclusions.
Understand what your child experiences – You may know about your child’s specific learning and attention issues. But what do they experience on a daily basis?
Understand what you can do – Whether you’re new to this journey or have been on it for a while, you want to help your child make progress and find success.
Whether you have worked with your child on dealing with this struggle for years or this is something new for you, Understood has resources for everyone to learn how to help these kiddos with whatever challenges they face. The You & Your Family section helps families with practical solutions and advice for social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
If you think your child might have a challenge with learning, please do not wait. Every second counts.