Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2019

33 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.ReadMPM.com feature K erri Yates remembers never being able to differentiate between Bs and Ds. She also remembers reading a . paragraph and not being able to recall a single word. As a child, she was lucky enough to attend a small school of only eight students where the teacher was able to give her one-on- one attention. It wasn’t until her late 20s that she was formally diagnosed with dyslexia. Now 46, she has owned 7 Nightingales, her career, life and business coaching company (located in Mount Pleasant for 14 years). But, before that, she worked for a highly successful software company for nine years and even lived in Japan for a while. She graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. “I always took extraordinary notes and taught myself to use visuals to associate with my work,” she explained. “It wasn’t easy, but I got through it.” Genie Grace Buchanan is a 20-year-old junior at Anderson University. She remembers being diagnosed with a learning disability in the third grade. It was dyslexia for her also. “My mom had a background in education, so she worked with me,” she recalled. “I remember that I hated reading out loud in class. But my mom helped me to overcome the problems I was having in that regard.” She now majors in interior design. “I found what I love, and, luckily, I don’t have to take too many reading classes. It is mostly a visual major, and I get to look at the big picture, which I am good at,” Buchanan explained. She said that having a learning disability encouraged her to work hard and to persevere. “Sometimes I feel isolated, but I never give up.” Dr. Angela LaRosa, a pediatrician who specializes in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, said that the key to having a successful outcome in the face of a learning disability is being diagnosed young and having parental and school support. “Figure out what needs to be done for the child,” Dr. LaRosa urged. “As a parent, it is important that you communicate with the teachers. Is there a behavior problem? It could be anxiety or stress due to a learning difference or disability. Help your kids with their homework so that you can identify any red flags.” She suggested getting in touch with the school psychologist. Teachers can help with identifying an issue, but they can’t diagnose. The school psychologist can work with the teacher and the parent to get a better idea of how to address that particular child’s learning behaviors. Dr. LaRosa suggested that parents do their research on some of the programs advertised that give anecdotal success stories. “Some of those programs are very costly. There is not a cure for dyslexia or autism, but there are evidence-based strategies that can be taught that focus on the child’s strengths to learn in a way that will aid in their success,” she said. Success Beyond a Diagnosis Living and Thriving with a Learning Disability Photo courtesy of Kerri Yates. BY THERESA STRATFORD Kerri Yates.