[senco-forum] HFA/dyslexia and fear in the classroom WAS working memory

the frustrations, angst and sheer fear.

Normals have no idea of
> the frustrations, angst and sheer fear.

Whilst I agree that the word 'fun' may have triggered this post, 
nevertheless, the responses ignore the message.  It's possible to 
'understand' through 'active learning' (aka 'fun) but is it enough to get 
acrosee the frustration, angst and sheer fear which John mentions???

This is the missing key to supporting children with HFA/Aspergers 
appropriately, too - and why our schools are too frequently inadvertently 
abusive of special needs children.

You may have the information in your head but it's different to really 
'getting' it at the emotional level.  The MMU is a fantastic step forward 
but you'll only know what it's really like if (eg) you've ever found 
yourself feeling totally powerless at the mercy of a powerful regulatory 
body.  Feeling paranoid, bullied, scared about your whole future going down 
the pan, getting in a panic because nobody is listening and not a single 
advocate available to support your corner?  Ah - you may have touched on 
what it's feels like (every day without hope of release) to have a mind 
which is differently-abled.

I didn't 'get it' either once upon a time - but I do now and I regret very 
much that it had been so far outside of my experience for so long.  Take the 
imaginative leap...to find a new perspective.  You will make such a 
difference to so many lives and never be forgotten.  :-)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Bergin" <bigjohn at bergieboy.demon.co.uk>
To: "'Phil'" <pmacken1 at bigpond.net.au>; <senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk>
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 1:02 PM
Subject: Re: [senco-forum] working memory

>>>>I'd like to give some fun activity <<<
>>>>to give them an idea of how<<<
>>>>it feels to have poor working memory. <<<
>
> Sorry, Fiona, please don't play, it is upsetting.
>
> It is *not*  fun activity and it is on a par with the
> "reading as a dyslexic" cyrillic alphabet type
> "fun activity"... please, I beg you do not do
> it. And "sturlettoapnock" to those who've been
> on that dyslexia friendly course.... of course you can
> remember the blessed word... visual memory and phonics dear people.
> .... remember there's a huge problem in just trying to forget
> too - when one has had to train oneself to remember. Hence the "dyslexia
> friendly" word set in stone in the memory... )
>
> Treat it seriously as it is not fun to have
> STM problems. Normals have no idea of
> the frustrations, angst and sheer fear.
>
> Please do do the strategies and routines that
> help sufferers instead. Check McLoughlins books.
>
> I have a MSWord on  WMTB-C by the Psych Corp
> that EPs can use and a couple of Inspiration Mind Maps
> within the the same document. ( A Mum asked me what the
> EP meant.)
>
> Sorry, there- summer rant over - have a great vacation.
>
> John. ( wanted to cry re games and
> fun activities of "the be a dyslexic for a day" variety.)
>
>
>
>
>
> 