He who has wealth, has hope; and he who has hope has everything.
Thomas Carlyle
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
A very curious thing happened last week: I was reminded that I continued to learn from my children. Oh, and there was one, more important event: our middle child was diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome. For the first several years of his life, he like so many learners, struggled with reading and writing so much so that he refused to read even for pleasure. Six years ago, a standard psycho-educational assessment revealed a diagnosis of mild ADHD, a worrisome level dyslexia, and a delayed processing function. However, the recent diagnosis of Irlen Syndrome (IS) has tempered those labels, and has given our son answers to some of his learning and mental health challenges.
And we owe this expansion to an experienced educator who had a hunch. Our son’s teacher, after inviting our son to see an colleague in the building (a certified IS diagnostician), emailed both my spouse and me that “[t]his was an amazing opportunity for —– that I couldn’t pass by.” And we are so grateful that he did not. Rule #1 in teaching: the gut is usually right; go with the gut. Rule #2: see Rule #1.
Side Note: The diagnostician became interested in IS when his eldest son was identified with the visual perceptual problem.
According to the Canadian Association of Irlen Professionals (CAIP), nearly 60% of people with dyslexia have Irlen Syndrome. IS is hereditary, and by most estimations can be found in 10-12% of the population. IS is a spectral disorder (our son’s IS is on the severe end). Most astounding is that many children who have been diagnosed with either ADHD and/or dyslexia, depression, or even a lack of academic engagement often have Irlen syndrome. Quite often this is a scenario of misdiagnosis.
Irlen Syndrome is in the pedagogical and educational lexicons in BC, but in Canada the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba lead the way with inclusion of an IS diagnostic test as a part of learner psycho-educational assessments.
THAT’S ME!
Our son was encouraged to watch the video below that focuses on a youth’s struggles and improvements since an Irlen Syndrome diagnosis.
After viewing our son exclaimed: “That’s me! That’s how I often see things in the world.” It was also in that moment that I witnessed years of frustration, dominance of a poor image of self, and repeated stories of ‘not good enough’, and regular bouts of self-flagellation all melt off of him. So beautiful. We have an appointment early in the New Year for our son to get his spectral glass and contact lenses.
FINAL GRATITUDE
Lastly, I cannot end this note without publicly expressing my deepest gratitude and appreciation for our son’s teacher, for seeing him for who he is: a really great kid that tries to show up for himself, that was struggling with something none of us knew anything about. Thank you, Shersty. And thank you to the diagnostician, who is in fact, a semi-retired principal recently called back into service. Thank you, Rod. Our son was struggling and nearing the end of his rope (we have had some very dark moments over the past three years); he had created a belief in himself as “not a learner” and a young person needing help. The principal’s son since getting the support he needed is now finishing his third year of university. And after all of this, if our son still desires to follow his plan to join the Canadian Armed Forces after graduation, he will go feeling healthier, more self-aware about himself as a learner and as a human being.
My son and I recently had a conversation in the car where he shared a profound observation: Life is not about giving up, but about hanging in there even when things are kind of not good.
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
Khalil Gibran
FINDING GOLD
Our son is a thoughtful, eloquent speaker (has had to compensate for a lack in other skills for years); he is a sweet and highly articulate kid who always has time for friends and family (and enjoys striking up conversations with complete strangers). As mentioned earlier: I have learned from our son and his experiences: Everyone wants to show up for their best selves; it is only natural for humans to want to learn; to do and be their best. That is why we must ‘hang in there’ and keep searching; we keep searching until we have the answer that fits what we need at a specific point in our life. There’s disappointment, surprise, sadness, frustration, and perhaps, joy, in the end. And a change for the better.
JY
GETTING CURIOUS 