A stranger’s kindness changed my son’s life. Though he complained even back to pre-k that he “saw things backward” and despite my pushing for evaluation, he was going into third grade in the local public school before he was tested and diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
I wish the school district would have listened earlier. He could have gotten the help he needed at the most crucial time in a child’s life, when it matters most. His attitude and behavior would have been different. Instead, he cried, hating going to school, and no one listened. It was a struggle for him because of his age – and his color.
By fourth grade, he was tired of teachers who were not helping him and bullying from other kids. So he started acting out. By fifth grade, he’d simply had enough. He was designated for alternative school, which I insisted was not what he needed, so he was suspended.
Then a passerby at my work overheard me sharing this with a coworker. She politely asked to speak with me and told me about her daughter’s specialized private school, the Friendship Lab Aspire School for Dyslexia. She told me about the LEARNS Act and The Reform Alliance, who explained programs that help families afford access to such schools.
It was a life-changing experience. The best decision I’ve ever made for my son was to put him in this school. Since I changed his environment, he’s flourished. He blossomed into the young man I knew he always was, bright and intelligent. He’s overcome the obstacles in his way and finally been blessed with an opportunity to attend a school that has been very patient, supportive and kind to him. He’s speaking out more, reading out loud more, and finally finding his voice – his identity – again. Where he once felt weak, he’s regained his confidence. I am so thankful and blessed that he can finally fly like an eagle!
Without programs to help to pay for his tuition, none of this would have been possible. The best thing we can do as parents is listen to our children. No matter how hard the conversation is, let them express themselves. They will tell us what they need. I’m truly sorry for everything my son had to go through, but my “sonshine” is now getting the help he needs and deserves.
– Jasmine Payton McIntosh
Little Rock, November 2024
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