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It's heartbreaking for parents to know that their child
feels this way about themselves and to watch them suffer in this way. But,
these are not just the feelings expressed by students with AD/HD, Asperger's
or Executive Functioning Challenges.
They are also the feelings expressed by you, their parents.
Because of their unique learning differences, students with AD/HD, Asperger's,
or Executive Functioning Challenges, run the risk of being labeled as "problem-students",
"oppositional", "lazy" or "unmotivated".
Sometimes they are lumped together with other, more seriously "challenged"
students, both cognitively and emotionally. Or, they're passed from one
program to another by professionals who, although well intentioned, don't
fully understand their particular needs. From an early
age these students get the message that there is something wrong with them,
that they are failures, and that they should be ashamed of their inability
to keep up with their peers.
As a parent, you feel the same way. (In fact, you may
have been accused of "micromanaging" your child or being "overprotective".
You may have even been referred to as a "helicopter parent").
- You may feel lost as to how to best motivate your child to perform at their potential.
- You may feel like a failure because you don't know how to help your child succeed.
- You may feel frustrated, confused and stressed to the breaking point by your child's inability to handle even some of the simplest tasks on their own, such as their morning routine or doing their homework.
Without the proper help, your feelings of helplessness
can turn to anger, or even, desperation. You watch yourself become more
anxious and demanding as your child spirals downward in a viscous cycle
of poor follow-through, falling grades, and a lack of motivation. You question
if they're going to be able to function successfully and lead a happy, fulfilled
life once they are out on their own in the real world.
It's frustrating - in fact, downright painful - when you
know your child has such potential, yet you can't find someone who can help
them unlock it.
What your child needs is a mentor. Someone who is in
their corner. Someone who understands them, understands their needs, and
what they are going through. Someone who has the training and expertise
to provide them the customized strategies and intensive support they need
in order to succeed. Someone who can help put the wind in their sails.
They need someone like me.
I created the 
to help students struggling with AD/HD, Asperger's, or Executive
Functioning Challenges. My background, education and experience make me
uniquely qualified to understand the mentality, needs, and opportunities
for students with these challenges. And, I excel at creating unique specialized
programs to help them succeed where others fail.
Why?
Well, I could tell you that I have AD/HD myself, and
that I've spent my entire life learning how to overcome the unique challenges,
frustrations, and shame associated with this condition.
I could also tell you that I am the parent of one child
with AD/HD and executive functioning challenges and another with High Functioning
Autism. As such, I understand the frustrations, the fears, and the exasperation
both you and your child experience on a daily basis. I also know the exhilaration
that comes when you discover how to get through to your child and help them
succeed.
But those aren't the main reasons you need to work
with me.
I've spent over 20 years researching, taking classes, and
working with students with AD/HD, Asperger's and Executive Functioning challenges,
all in the name of creating a curriculum to help them best learn how to
learn and live independently.
I've dedicated my life to determining the best way to unlock the potential
within each student. I understand the various components involved and the
multi-modal approach that must be followed in order for our students to
succeed. I utilize research based, proven effective learning strategies.
I conduct my work from the mindset of using whatever best resource exists
at hand to help them succeed. And, I personally work to tweak those strategies,
even going so far as to individually tailor them to meet the needs of a
particular student, if need be.
is dedicated to helping your child succeed in the mainstream. I want
to keep them in school, with their peers, and without the feelings of failure
or alienation. It is my intention to help each student who comes through
SAIL Institute to become more independent, self-confident, and in control
of their education and their life.
Let me finish with this: There is no magic pill to helping
your child.
The secret to helping your child succeed comes from finding the strategies
that coincide with their unique, individual learning style.
is dedicated to discovering how your child works
best. From there, I can help them to unlock their potential. With time your
child's confidence, competence, and independence will grow.
And nothing beats the satisfaction of watching them
sail!