By Zahavit Paz
You know the old saying: “If you want something done right, you’d better do it yourself.”
When it comes to finding a champion for your rights as a learning disabled person, no truer words were ever spoken.
Here’s the good news: if you suffer from learning disability Dyslexia, ADD, or ADHD you are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act. This means that – once your condition has been properly diagnosed – you are entitled to receive.
This means that – once your condition has been properly diagnosed – you are entitled to receive certain invaluable dispensations that will allow you to compete as a student at school or an employee in the workplace. That’s the law.
But now the bad news: laws don’t work unless people invoke them. Many sad cases exist where institutions seem disinclined to follow the law. For instance, some universities have refused to provide their LD students with dispensations to help them study. Many corporations have refused to recognize their LD employees’ special needs.
Enough is enough!
LD Resources Foundation Action (www. LDRFA.org) created to help you, the Learning Disabled person, pursue an illuminated path of self-advocacy. Self-advocacy means putting your own needs first! It means improving yourself by:
Self-advocacy means putting your own needs first! It means improving yourself by:
- a) knowing your rights;
- b) knowing who can help you facilitate your rights;
- c) demanding your rights when they are not offered to you directly; and
- d) enjoying your rights once they’ve been obtained.
The bottom line with self-advocacy is this: NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT YOU THAN YOU DO!
Don’t wait for someone else to wander along and offer to change your life for the better. Empower yourself! Sit up and take notice of all the tools available to help you! Then . . . go get them, and improve your life!
Read more about Learning Disability Rights
Self Advocacy Links & Resources
These are lists of agencies that serve people with disabilities. They provide useful information on advocacy, funding, career assistance, services and academic assistance. Click here for learning disabilities self-advocacy resources.