Kids with learning disabilities may need their mentors to go the extra mile for them along the way to building what society calls a successful life.

Mentors include parents and other family members such as aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents; close family friends; school personnel such as teachers, learning specialists; the family doctor and therapists; community organizations; and national research projects to participate in.

That list is probably longer than you thought it would be! Add others as you think of them.

Organize resources

Begin the process of making opportunities for your child's success by making a chart with each of those categories mentioned above. Then after each heading write down the name, phone numbers, addresses and particulars of each for reference as needed.

It would be a helpful plan to either make the list in a computer document, or leave lots of space on your chart to add information in the spaces as your child grows and moves along the timeline of life.

Another approach rather than a chart is to begin a ring binder with the information. In that case every resource could have its own section. Pages with tabs and labels can separate the categories for ease in finding information from a particular source.

I am a visual learner and go with a chart to see the overview of resources available. But, I also keep binders of the details of each category. The binders sit in a line in a bookcase right next to my computer for ease of typing in, printing out and inserting pages in the appropriate category. Furthermore I label the binders by years after I start a 2nd set of information.

What this organization allows me to do is look across the binder labels and pull just the binder needed to check out information recorded in a certain year, or by topic if that is how you organize.

For those who prefer to keep information in a filing cabinet, a system of folders in the cabinet provide access to resources as needed with the same efficiency as binders on the bookshelf.

When you get your organization set up, make it a point to add information regularly to keep it updated.

Kids with learning disabilities can be successful with a community of resources at hand. Parent and mentors, the time you spend aiding these kids now will pay off in the long run by helping promote these future adults of society.

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Article by Susan Kramer