"A child who cannot talk cannot socialize; he is alone and isolated."These are the words from the founder and director of the School for Language and Communication Development (SLCD) is a special education school dedicated to helping and preparing children with autism spectrum and language disorders.
Their mission is to identify children with language and autism spectrum disorders early to provide educational programs which will prepare them for a world filled with words, sentences, stories and messages. Language is a symbol system; it provides the means to reach out to the world. It is the most important skill that a child must learn early in life. Language provides the foundation for socializing, reading, questioning, writing and thinking.
SLCD is truly an amazing school. I remembered when I toured it as a potential school for my daughter and by the end of that tour, I was in tears and I KNEW she had to be there.
My daughter is learning disabled and I can tell you this news was devastating. In the years following, I've lived through the horror and the tug-of-war battle with the New York City Department of Education. Our fight was long and exhausting and lasted for 4 stressful and emotional years.
It was through persistence, dedication and love for my child that carried me and gave me the strength to see this emotional process to the end. At times it felt like there was no end in sight and the experience broke my heart as I was stripped bare and felt so helpless as I sat in endless meetings listening to idiots talk about my child as if she wasn't a person at all. The end result: I sued the bastards and won my case! My daughter in her third year at SLCD is thriving.
I've learned so much through the years, gathered a wealth of information. However, the most vital lesson I learned was early intervention is essential and I wish for every minute they wasted with unnecessary bullshit I could have them back. Children with learning disabilities need a voice, a champion to fight for them. As parents it is our duty to be that champion. A parent not advocating for their child, is not worthy of the privlage of being a parent.I cannot stress enough, if you suspect your child has a learning disorder, do not hesitate and get help immediately! There is no time for denial, placing blame and wondering why? It just is. But do not go it alone because you will get nowhere but frustrated and run in circles trying to navigate through the NYC DOE. Hire a parent advocate, a lawyer or the many other representatives available that can cut through the bullshit that is the NYC Department of Education. Every second is precious and by not doing something it is an opportunity lost and you can never get it back.
Please take the time and visit SLCD and see the difference they are making.
