stayed with us until I started high school.  Self-instructional materials were more readily available for these grades, even in the late 1070's.  the only other kids I knew of who were being home schooled back then were the Osmonds' and the Jackson 5.  Child actors and traveling musicians.  That was us! 

 

Unbeknownst to us, my little sister suffered from Dyslexia.  She would later attend Belmont University where one of her professors told her.  She had struggled for years and had adapted her style of learning to compensate for it. She was actually relieved to know.  She was and still is extremely smart but so many numbers and letters are flipped in her mind.

 

My daughter had trouble leaning in a classroom too.  It was obvious to us that she struggled to keep up with her class.  She had a speech in pediment as well, which only added to her difficulty.  She ended up being non-verbal for the majority of the day.  Her teacher called me in multiple times to scold me for not working with her enough at home.  Me, being so foreign to the classroom, I was overwhelmed and intimidated myself.  Every recess, Rachel would be sitting in the hallway of her little privet school, trying to catch up with the work her classmates had already done.  When I found out about that, I cried.  We both felt like failures at that point.  

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That school "uninvited" her to participate in the 3rd year registration because they just were not equipped or unwilling to adjust their classroom to meet her needs and pace.  She would bounce from one school to the next, as we tried to find answers.  She was so smart, kind and never had to be disciplined at school.  She just didn't fit any bodies program.  We had her tested and treated for eye movement therapy, and she attended several years of summer school.  Doctors tried and failed to adequately  diagnose her for years.

 

As an adult, while attending college in Texas, she hit a wall.  At that point, we get her to a place where she was finely able to get the help she so desperately needed.  She had been have panic attacks, disguised as  depression.  She had several great doctors take an interest in her and get her the therapy and life skills that she had been missing.  I received help too, and now we are able to talk to so many other families who are suffering too.

 

In 2018, I started an non-profit program called Dare2Dream Learning Center.  This 501c3 has partnered with other similar programs in the Nashville area who are serving under educated teens and young adults.  Currently, we are writing grants and feel the direction of this program will be in film and Television.  2020 has opened our eyes to the need for "at home" learning for people of all ages.  Never before, have the doors been more open to diversity in education.  This hits home for me...and is the reason Dare2Dream was born.  As dark as 2020 was for children, parents and educators, the future is now so bright we have to wear shades!

 

If you are experienced in grant writing or want to be a part of the future with D2DLC, please contact us today.