Archive for the ‘Living with Learning Disabilities and ADD’ Category

Living With my Learning Disabilities

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I grew up with Learning Disabilities. If you have or know anyone that have Learning Disabilities, you know that it can be very difficult. You struggle to do homework, you struggle to make friends, you feel like you are not good enough and you start thinking you will not amount to anything. I know firsthand how hard things can be but I want to assure you that there is hope. You may not think so because when people call you names all of the time and tell you that you are a loser and won’t amount to anything, you start believing them.

I just want you to know that you are not alone and don’t listen to what those fools tell you. You will find something you are good at. Just try your best at everything and don’t ever think it’s not good enough. I don’t want you to end up having low or in my case no self esteem. You are beautiful. Be happy with who you are and don’t let anyone bring you down. I know that you wish that you were someone else, someone more smart, someone better than you. Don’t think that way. You probably have a much better personality than those “popular” people that you want to be.

I never thought that I would be where I am now. I am not very smart and I don’t have a job that makes me rich. I am happy with who I am now and that is much better than being depressed all of the time. Things are much better when you are happy. Just live life and be happy, that’s what I do now. Take life in one day at a time and remember that you are a wonderful person! I hope to write a little more about me and my Learning Disabilies, so keep watching! I would love to help, if I can.

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Canton wins Illinois state Special Olympics championship.

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Lauren our little angle won the mvp in game one of the Illinois State special Olympics tournament for her division. Canton Special Olympics junior team made the championships and won both games earning Gold metals for the state in their division.  It was so amazing to watch them play and it is such a wonderful event. Lauren just had her first track practice and is going to try the long jump, 100meter and relay this year. Last year she made it to state and won Gold metals as well. Go Canton little Giants

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Family Update

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

The weekend went well Lauren’s team won the state championship. The family bonded and enjoyed a camp fire on both Sunday and Monday nights. It was fun Brad, Lauren and I all went and gathered wood around the local country roads. Nature provides plenty of wood that has fallen to the ground no need to buy it. Monday night we had a possum enter our yard but we startled it and it left. Arek still making progress in communicating. He has major sensory issues which we are working on. We still all waiting for an attorney for the eviction we are facing on march 23rd. We hired an attorney to represent us in the personal injuries suffered by our family. Hope it works out cause the attorney gets 33&1/3.  today I found out a local teacher who from the comments posted about her suggest was a great teacher was dismissed y the school board for what amounts to personal differences between herself and the principal. Discrimination charges were filed before this incident which makes you wonder what the motivation behind the firing really was. Autism rating today was mildly stressful Arek was pretty good all day. he still strips down to diaper as soon as he gets home from school. He is in school for only 4 hours a day but it is long enough he needs to stim when he gets home. Autism education reform is still desperately needed as far as training and equipment here in canton. the schools do what they can with what they got. We still have not received our income tax or SSA stimulus payment. Financially we are under water and the bubbles are slowly leaving our lungs. certainly we could use some more income and better budgeting. The past 6 months have been very trying on us as a family and hopefully the end of our struggle is soon. I am still taking medication which helps some but does not perform miracles. I am i the process of finding a psychiatrist. My therapist is great his name is Dr. Phil. been trying to spend more time with the family and less time endlessly fighting the travesties I have been subjected to. It is a strain on our family and almost to the point of just giving up which for me is nearly impossible.  That is all for now write more later as info comes along.

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Update on Arek

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Arek is coming along so great. He is talking now at least somewhat. He listens sometimes and has stopped taking his diaper off for the most part. He gives hugs and kisses and calls his family members by our names well very close. He still has sensory integration issues we call him superman cause no matter how hard we try to prevent him from damaging something he still manages to do it. He actually lifted the computer desk up with the computer and monitor on it.  Luckily only the computer case and one hard drive was destroyed. The computer is no longer accessible to him it is currently in the basement. until i can secure the computer desk and devise a way to secure the computer and monitor.  Got to get some sleep will update more soon.

Lauren is still playing Special Olympics basketball and is going to the Illinois state championship march 14th to play for state championship in her teams division. My baby is going for second Gold metal in a row they won last year. She is looking forward to track. Go Lauren you are so awesome and inspiring to watch, my little angel.

until next time,

Brad Smith

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