We in dolfrog land have a special interest in Learning Difficulties.

We are a family of 5. Mum, Dad and 3 sons.

Number one sprog has recently been diagnosed as having CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING DEFICIT (CAPD). After doing some research into this difficulty, it became apparent that Dads' learning difficulty was very similar ( but was unheard of in his school days). Prior to this diagnosis we believed the problem to be dyslexia. Number two sprogs' school reports are mirroring those of sprog one, so it looks as if we have 3 with CAPD. Number 3 sprog is not out of nappies yet, but he has had a hearing problem since birth, and is being monitered by the Audioligists.

We have had the usual problems with the Local Eduction Authority and the Educational Psychologists, who have one eye on their budgets and the other on our childrens problems. Which the fault of the system as it exists at the moment. The other major problem is that outside of North America not many people have much knowledge about CAPD or dyslexia. The UK governments of recent years have only paid lip service to these disablities, and as a result now we have very few teachers who are able to recognise Learning Difficulties, especially the subtler ones. There appears to be very little co-ordination between the various personnel and bodies responsible for helping the children and parents with these problems. (A government rouse to prevent them spending any money) There needs to be a greater level of public awareness of the problems and how small things can help.

However this lack of investment can only store up problems for later years as the child becomes more frustrated at not being understood by his peers, and elders. If the problem is not recognised and help to find stratagies around the problem. Then the child is unable to reach his full academic potential (if he is really frustated by his communication problems then truancy and a lack of interest in school will be more damaging) and will not be able to make his potential contibution to the economy, and society at large. The frustration of parents who are becoming more knowledgable than the so-called experts,and unable to obtain the help their children need, will become increasingly passed on to their children.

I believe we should inform our children of the nature of their problems because they must learn to survive with the problem for the rest of their lives. They are the ones who have to develop statagies around their problems. If this upsets teachers and schools then TOUGH. They should train their staff properly to educate the 10% of their classes with learning difficulties. Why should parents have to fight this problem on their own.

After leaving School the problems of employment arise, if the problem has either not been diagnosed or has not recieved any help, then get a job is more difficult, keeping a job is almost impossible because the employer will recognise that he has a problem with ethe individual and not knowing what it is will dismiss the individual as being lazy, too slow, or inefficient. So the problem which could have been helped by some investment at an early age now becomes a SOCIAL BENEFIT drain. There is also the lost potential contributions to the economy, people with learning difficulties can offer a different perspective on things and because they have to solve problems to survive, the can solve problems for others as well in the wider world.

Sermon over.