A Diagnosis is Not a Label but a Guidance Tool: A Wise Mom’s Point of View
I loved doing this interview because I came away with so many insights. One thing I love about this mom’s answers is the saying, “A diagnosis is not a label but a guidance tool.” Reframing a diagnosis is a great way to consider being on an IEP. Her son has a dual diagnosis, so that could be an additional challenge. Some parents know their child needs help at a very young age, but this young man breezed through elementary school. Read about his journey and all the strengths that make him an amazing young man.
He loves riding bikes, especially BMX, dirt bikes, and electric dirt bikes, and owns and races all three. I used a picture of him for this blog, which was taken when he was in California at Vans Skate Park. His mom describes him as the kind of kid any mom could be proud of, and he is thoughtful and kindhearted with just the right amount of grit. He taught the youngest two of his three sisters how to ride a bike. This mom has many valuable insights with a great resource, so read this and learn some great tools.
Q: What is one thing you wish teachers know about your child that is not on the IEP?
A: Having a dual diagnosis of gifted, ADHD, and a writing disability is super frustrating for a child, especially one that breezed through elementary school
Q: Scores on tests do not define the child. What is something your child is really good at that is not reflected on tests?
A: What a great judge of character he has. He can tell if people are vested in him or just playing the game.
Q: How important is homework for your child? Is it just a burden, or is it a helpful learning tool?
A: It depends on the activity and subject content. In math, it was a burden due to the rigid structure and length( he was gifted in math) but for honors language arts, reading was a pleasure, and vocabulary memorization was definitely not his favorite
Q: How old was your child when you first knew he/she had special needs?
A: Third to fourth grade
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for someone who has a newly diagnosed child?
A: If you are unsure of how to handle the diagnosis, there are lots of support and mentoring programs. A diagnosis is not a label but in fact a guidance tool! You know your child, advocate to work with educators to help them understand your child’s personality and needs to create a meaningful educational experience.
Q: What is one meal that everyone in your family likes to eat?
A: Chicken Pesto
Q: What advice do you have for interacting with children with special needs?
A: We are all just humans, although everyone is different, we all have the same basic needs (to be loved, understood, and treated with respect) which if not met, growth will not occur.
Q: What activities do you recommend to other parents to foster self-care?
A: That truly depends on the parent. Journaling is great, but not for everyone… I recommend that a parent finds something/s ( taking a walk, meditation, reading, etc) that brings them inner joy/peace and be sure to make it happen once a week or day, however, it is needed to recharge.
Q: Are there any support groups that you recommend for parents or children?
A: Medina County mentoring program ( Cheryl Mendel)
Q: What are your favorite family activities?
A: Biking, visiting family, going to the beach, game nights, family dinners
Today, as a high school graduate, this young man continues to thrive with the support from his IEP. He works full-time with a landscape company and loves it because he is with his friends and likes beautiful houses. He has a welding certificate from the Medina Career Center and has mentioned using it for a career. He is prepared to do great things no matter what he chooses.
A great support for parents that this mom so wisely mentioned is Cheryl Mendel. Cheryl is the Parent Mentor at the Educational Service Center of Medina County. A Parent Mentor helps both families and school districts. Ohio Parent Mentors are parents of children with disabilities and provide support to families using their firsthand experiences. The services provided by a Parent Mentor are free of charge and include connecting families with community resources and guiding parents through the special education process. The program is funded through a grant from the Ohio Department of Education. (ODE) Cheryl’s email is cmendel@medinaesc.org. For more information go to:
https://sites.google.com/medinaesc.org/parentmentor/home