Summer Students Reflect on Learning Disabilities
June 29, 2016
Self-Advocacy Beyond the Classroom
July 20, 2016
Springer’s Adventures in Summer Learning program concluded last week, and students took an opportunity to reflect on what they had gained during the four-week program.
Students were encouraged to become “students of themselves,” and to observe where their strengths lie, and what challenges them. They learned strategies that will support them in the coming school year. And beyond the strategies, they discovered that they are not alone.
Here are some excerpts from the students’ essays:
I learned that people are more like me than I thought. I shouldn’t be scared to raise my hand. It’s okay to ask for help. I learned how to “chunk out” my time and stay in the present. I shouldn’t be bullied or pushed around because I have a disability. ~ Rachel
I was afraid to read out loud before camp, and now I feel more comfortable reading. Here are some things I’m going to use in fourth grade: advocating for myself, using text-to-speech and speech-to-text software, “fidgets” can help me focus, and it’s okay to ask for help. ~ Clara
Before I was ashamed that I was different, and I could be made fun of. I hoped people did not find out, but when they found out, they started saying I was dumb and they were making fun of me. It felt like all the classes I’d go to, I didn’t really get it. While I was in summer school, I learned not to be ashamed of how I am. Now I am not ashamed of how I am. ~ Campbell
I learned how to take my time and not give up! And try my best in everything! If I fail, I will stand strong and keep trying! ~ Nolan
At Springer I learned to break things into five minutes at a time. I was really shy when I first came, but now I’m myself. This is important because I need to be myself next year at my new school. I can advocate for myself.
I learned that lots of other people have ADHD. You should raise your hand if you start to get lost, and take things one step at a time. You should never say, “I can’t,” because it’s not true! ~ Shannon
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