People have been connected into the old paradigm which really doesn’t match who people are today, in this highly visual creative world. The old paradigm is connected to a deficit, finding some or all of spelling, reading, concentration, organisation, short term memory, comprehension, physical stability etc very difficult. The old paradigm is being loosened through counter case studies of people overcoming these challenges through a new understanding of visual thinking and an appreciation of the genius of visual thinkers.
I want to give individuals the opportunity to connect into a new paradigm of infinite possibilities, letting go of the behaviours that have so confused individuals, their families and those who have tried to teach them. The new paradigm is full of opportunities, for people to focus their exceptional skills on, their creative talents and above all to be themselves without the confusion of the old paradigm.
To achieve this the education system needs to learn from these people, tapping into their extraordinary gifted ways of learning. We need to disconnect from the old paradigm of teaching people more and more stuff, proving what people can’t do and beware the damage and judgement that follows this. We need to engage with their creative side of problem solving, opportunities, seeing challenges from different perspectives, etc. These are the skills that are so needed for the current time in which we live.
As people relax into the person they are, discarding the energies of what other people think they should be, they become more grounded, and a calmness comes over them enabling them to connect in their true essence and their inner truth, excelling in their chosen field.
You need to look past the debilitating symptoms to the exceptional talents these people have and once we respect those talents, they can flourish.
Recently, I am really encouraged by the talks from Sir Ken Robinson, and recent research that is starting to acknowledge these exceptional skills. For instance the New York Times reported Dr. Catya Von Karolyi saying “dyslexia should not be characterised only by a deficit, but also by talent” and from Matthew Schneps’ work on peripheral vision, “in some situations, it turns out, those with dyslexia are actually the superior learners”. Attached is a list of the benefits of Dyslexia. Others being produced for other “learning difficulties”
We have a long way to go in trying to shift the paradigm for the whole of learning difficulties, but we are seeing movement.
You will find Bridges to Success – How to Transform Learning Difficulties, offers you many more different perspectives. www.bridgestosuccess.co.uk
Olivehickmott 
Not only do we need to focus on the creative gifts of the “learning disabled”, but we need to apply creative solutions to their struggles!
There are lots of people doing great work. We have many creative ways to teach our young people, that matches their strengths, and we all need to start moving this paradigm to be really effective.
I have 2 teenage sons…..one of whom is autistic with MLD. In the main, I find when most people realise he is “different” they either warm to him quickly or get embarrassed by their own lack of personable skills! Over the past 10 years I believe the general public have become more aware of autism and its benefits but there still is a long way to go….
I found this recently “the 10 commandments of interacting with kids on the autism spectrum”. I like this one particularly as it is written from the point of view of the child. http://enabledkids.ca/?p=2071