From: Terry W. Colvin (fortean1@mindspring.com)
Date: Tue Jun 10 2003 - 09:39:33 MDT
Rick Dill is father to Jan Dill, 30 years old with Down Syndrome.
Mike,
Your experience is a great match for my oldest son. He never was put on
drugs but he was abused by fellow students and the occasional teacher
who found him easy to pick on. He left high school with only one
friend. In college and later as a grunt in the army he recovered .. now
is married, writing computer games, and socially OK. His IQ is much
higher than mine. His life functionality is yet to be measured because
that takes many years.
Your view doesn't fit well into the world of DS and ADHD. My daughter
(DS, high achieving and a pioneer) is certainly borderline if not full
ADHD. She learned to be tough and think for herself (even if a little
simply). What would you expect from two hyper parents.
It also doesn't fit the S.O.[Special Olympics] gymnast, Chris, I trained
(off meds) in the little team that I set up so my own kid would have
gymnastics. Chris was at the extreme but wonderful. I have incredible
pride (as he does) for his achievements that went on in spite of me.
Eventually his behaviours became more than even his (truly loving)
parents could cope with and he was moved to Pathfinder Village where he
was able to develop into a pretty functional young man (as of last time
I saw him).
ADHD is not something simple and maybe it is far over-diagnosed. Hey, I
got through without being diagnosed dislexic and that is one of my
advantages in life. I look at things differently than other people and
sometimes that is really valuable.
Your story, while interesting to me, seems pretty irrelevant in dealing
with kids with DS who have extreme problems. Simple problems .. now
that is just developing some character and spirit of independence and I
have to support that strongly.
You wrote (among other things): >>>>>>>>>>>> In fifth grade I spent more
days in detention than not. I had C and D grades. I was forced to learn
at the same dull and snails pace as the rest of the idiots[WATCH THAT
WORDING] and was bored out of my skull. Misbehaved to the point of
wrestling matches with my teacher. Got corporal punishment from the
principal (ruler on the wrist). <<<<<<<<
Rick ... Dad to 30 year old Jan (DS, maybe ADHD and AML)
-- Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@mindspring.com > Alternate: < fortean1@msn.com > Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html > Sites: * Fortean Times * Mystic's Haven * TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program ------------ Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org >[Vietnam veterans, Allies, CIA/NSA, and "steenkeen" contractors are welcome.]
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