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Aunt Runner's
Exceptional Children Page
An exceptional child is one that is different in some way from the "normal" or "average"
child. The term "exceptional child" includes those with special problems related to physical
disabilities, sensory impairments, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, ADD and ADHD, culturally
diverse, gifted/talented, traumatic brain injury and mental retardation. Most exceptional children require
a lot of understanding and patience as well as special education and related services if they are to reach
their full potential of development.
It is estimated that one out of every ten children in the United States is an exceptional child, representing
a total of nearly eight million children.
This page is dedicated to Exceptional Children and their families. Because I am studying to become a learning
specialist for Exceptional Children; I wanted to create this page to share stories, poems, and words of
encouragement with others. If you have anything to contribute to this page, please send me an E-mail.
If you only read one thing about Exceptional Children...
PLEASE read these Three Letters from Teddy.
Click here to visit Aunt Runner's Exceptional Children
Share Board
This song was written by France LeBrun for her daughter who was an exceptional child.
Famous People
Who Had Trouble Learning
Albert Einstein
ALBERT EINSTEIN had a hard time learning languages, but he was very good at math. He failed tests to get
into college the first time he took them. He later became a great thinker and physicist and figured out
the Theory of Relativity--about motion, speed and gravitation.
Thomas Edison
THOMAS EDISON was taken out of school because learning seemed impossible for him. His spelling and grammar
were poor. Still, he went on to invent the electric light bulb, the phonograph, the Kinetoscope (the first
'moving picture' machine), and other useful things.
Beethoven
BEETHOVEN'S music teacher once said of him "As a composer, he is hopeless." Later he became
known all over the world for being a great composer. He continued to compose even after be became deaf.
Bruce Jenner
BRUCE JENNER said he was a slow learner and felt 'dumb'. He repeated 2nd grade and struggled until high
school, when he was told he had dyslexia--difficulty learning the skills of reading, writing, spelling
and sometimes also of listening and speaking clearly. In junior high school, he found he could do well
in sports. He was bright and motivated and won Olympic gold medals in the running, throwing, and jumping
events in 1976. He is now a commentator for a major broadcasting company.
George Washington
GEORGE WASHINGTON was unable to spell throughout his life and his grammar usage was very poor. His brother
suggested that perhaps surveying in the backwoods might be an appropriate career for young George.
Tom Cruise
TOM CRUISE is unable to read due to severe dyslexia. He is able to memorize lines and perform on the stage
and screen.
More famous learning disabled people:
Alexander Graham Bell
Walt Disney
General George Patton
Winston Churchill
Cher
Whoopi Goldberg
Danny Glover
Greg Louganis
Louis Pasteur
Hans Christian Andersen
Quotes
'The people who took the time to get to know me are still my friends and will be for a long time. They
are special people and they think I'm special'.--Child with a physical handicap
"I wish I could tell people, 'Don't be scared of what you see. You have to look behind the disability
and see the person'."
Most people don't understand the courage it takes for a child to return to a place where he failed yesterday,
the day before, and in all probability the next day.
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