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LEARNING DISABILITIES: THE ADVANTAGE OF DISADVANTAGE 

In This Issue:
A Major League Success Story
Study Tip: Eating The Frog!
Coach of the Month: Elizabeth Carter
Quick Links

 

Academic Success Partner of the Month

  

 

Our Success Partner is someone very close to home here at Academic Success, Jennifer Caspar. Jennifer inaugurated the Eric Altshule Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of her late husband Eric Altshule, co-founder of Academic Success. Known by its shorter name, Eric's Kids, it commemorates the life and work of Eric by providing scholarships, mentoring and grief support for students who have lost a parent. Working in partnershp with the California Community Foundation and the Catholic Education Foundation, the fund provides financial assistance and support to children who would otherwise be unable to attend quality Catholic schools. In doing so it preserves the memory of Eric, who believed all children deserve a quality education.
For more information visit  the Eric's Kids page on the CCF website, go to the Facebook page or email Jennifer with any questions. 

Looking for a Student Community Service Opportunity?

  
Meet Rickey Smith, social entrepreneur and owner of the sustainable food business Urban Green. He's started a community education venture called the Urban Green Kids Row program, creating opportunities for kids from diverse backgrounds to participate in many activities related to food sustainability, from planting seeds  to learning about how organic food is grown and harvested. For more info on a terrific community service and volunteering opportunity for kids, email Rickey, visit the website at www.urbangreenla.com

or call (800) 200 3320. 

Check out Our  YouTube Video!

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two-minute video we recently produced to give you a feel for who we are, our philosophy and the way we approach our work
How Academic Success Can Support You
At Academic Success we take great pride in finding the right coach to support the unique needs of each student we help.  Please check out the areas where we work on our  web site and let us know how we can support you.

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Looking for a College Counselor or Ed Therapist?
We work and partner with excellent Educational Therapists and College Counselors throughout the L.A. area.  Give us a call and we can recommend the right fit for your child.

310-823-4398
How Can A Learning Disability Potentially Give Someone A Hidden Advantage?
 
A fascinating exploration of that question (along with   some possible answers) can be found in Malcolm Gladwell's new book, David and Goliath. In the book, Gladwell makes the case that what may seem to be crippling disadvantages can often result in the development of very specific skills that provide an edge in later life. 
One of the most common learning disabilities found in students is dyslexia. Yet many of the most successful people in their chosen fields have this disability, including David Boies, one of the subjects of Gladwell's book. Boies was lead counsel in one of the most famous Supreme Court cases in US history (Bush v Gore in 2000). In the book, Boies details how he was forced to develop excellent listening skills and a superb memory that would give him an advantage in his academic and professional careers.
This month, we'll focus on examples of weaknesses transformed into strengths. We'll also present stories that might be an inspiration to those with learning disabilities and the people who love and support their quest for success.
 
At Academic Success, we believe that an inquiring mind, a strong spirit and a willingness to work hard should be the only requirements for the fulfillment of a student's highest aims. 

 

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or

 

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All the best,

 

Jamie

 

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

                                                - Henry Ford

Education News 

A Major League Success Story
  
Paul Rabil, standout Major League Lacrosse player for the Boston Cannons, recently addressed a group of dyslexic middle schoolers. In an inspirational speech, he shared his struggle with auditory processing disorder and how the need for exhausting repetition helped him to develop world-class skills on the sporting field.
 
From Dyslexia To CEO 

 

While it's estimated that 1 in 3 successful entrepreneurs suffer from dyslexia, not all of them re-invest in helping others with disabilities to reach academic heights. That's certainly the case for the founder and CEO of Remind 101, a communications/software solution for teachers, students and parents. In this inspiring piece he shares a wisdom and sensitivity borne of overcoming early learning challenges.

 

Early Work Experience Providing Inspiration

 

In a trend hopefully to be emulated here in the US, businesses in Gloucestershire, England, are stepping up to provide crucial early professional experience for students with learning disabilities. In response to a council initiative, local businesses are working on lowering the barriers that deny equal access to jobs in the community.

 
A Musical Answer To Early Disability

   

Based on findings from recent studies in China and Sweden, experts at the Society For Neuroscience believe it likely that learning to play an instrument at any age can be enormously helpful in overcoming learning disabilities. This fascinating article reports on the discovery that undergoing musical training improves brain connectivity and avoid the necessity to rely so heavily upon memory in learning.

 

Dreaming Beyond One's Disability

 

When it comes to tackling learning disability, the importance of being surrounded by a supportive and loving family cannot be overstated 
This heartfelt, beautiful op-ed, from the pages of the Chicago Sun-Times, is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of dreams in overcoming disability. 

Study Tips 

Eating The Frog: Overcoming Difficulty and Resistance Through Direct Action
 
Disabilities such as dyslexia have long been accepted as provable realities for those who suffer from them. Yet many students often feel behind the curve in a particular area of study without being able to blame their difficulties on an actual disability. Consequently, students will often begin to neglect certain subjects due to a belief that they have no talent for them, when in reality they may just need to devote a little more time and effort to that subject in order to thrive. 
Ultimately students will often be forced to keep up in areas that may not come easy to them. This is where Eating the Frog can transform a weakness into a strength!
The idea comes from a fantastic book by Brian Tracy, dealing with procrastination and conquering resistance. 
In a nutshell, here's how it works: if you wake up dreading an arduous task you have to complete, such as eating a frog.....
DO IT RIGHT AWAY, BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. 
Putting the most difficult tasks at the top of our to-do list and confronting them without hesitation builds confidence and leaves us inspired and invigorated for the rest of our day, usually leading to greater productivity. Students may also discover that they in fact do
have a talent for a particular subject, once they've been prepared to make it their first priority.
You have something difficult that needs doing? Wake up, get out of bed... and Eat The Frog!

Coach Profile 

 
Meet Elizabeth Carter,
  Coach Profile of The Month

This month we introduce you to a coach appearing in our newsletter for the first time, Elizabeth Carter. Known as Libby by friends and family, Elizabeth hails from Georgia where she earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia. She then moved to Fort Collins, Colorado a few years later, obtaining a degree in Spanish. Libby has accrued many years of experience traveling the world teaching English as a second language; she has taught in Ecuador, South Korea and served as Coordinator of English Programs in Santiago, Chile. Libby arrived in Los Angeles a year ago and promptly joined the Academic Success team; she works primarily with students dealing with executive functioning deficits and is able to produce results through the application of various strategies acquired through her years of training. Libby will be participating in an Educational Psychology practicum over the course of the next year. She has built her success on making learning a fun experience for every student with whom she works. We are delighted to have her on board at Academic Success.

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We consider it a privilege and an honor to support students and their families throughout the Los Angeles area.  Please call us at any time; we welcome your thoughts and input.  We are available at 310-823-4398.

Sincerely,
 
Jamie Altshule
Academic Success, Inc.