Having learning disabilities within a core/nuclear family group is genetically possible. In fact having several children with autism within a core/nuclear family is possible. I have had students with siblings having the same or related special needs category. There are siblings, first cousins, parent-child with the same conditions.

I remember my first cousin’s firstborn child, a boy. I used to tell her that there is a problem with her boy when the boy was just a few years old. Now the boy is a teener and is showing signs of ADHD and a host of other behavioral problems. Untreated. Undiagnosed. No behavior modifications given. No learning intervention given. Not even medical intervention given. I won’t delve into details how he is now because I haven’t seen him for a long, long time. As it is, I can’t say for sure how he is because I only hear “hurtful/hateful” stories about him from relatives who do not really understand the dynamics of children with special needs. So sad.

Now here comes my father’s second cousin who I saw last week. He came for his mother’s (my grandaunt) wake and funeral. I think he and his family lives in Chicago. I also thought he may be working for a Chicago cosmetic surgeon or something related to medical firms because Uncle used to be medical representative before he went to the USA. But I’m wrong, he works for the US Postal Services while his wife (whom I haven’t seen nor met) is a nurse. Anyway, their daughter, F (my third cousin) has ADHD. She has been diagnosed as such. She is currently receiving free special education intervention in a public school near their house. In her class they have a regular school teacher plus several teacher aides. They have free occupational therapy to help them with their attention, sensorial and a host of other needs to be addressed to be able to function like atypically children in a class. They also have special education teacher who gives them individual programs depending upon their learning and coping needs.

What a world of difference for my two relatives. I wish them both well. I wish I could help the first boy in the first scenario. I really wish so. But then I don’t know where they are now. I have lost in touch with them. Or maybe I am not just trying hard to do so.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 at 10:50 am and is filed under Being a (Special Ed) Teacher, Bits and Pieces, My Family, special education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.