“Most people know about Helen Keller as a child - full of curiosity and wonder at the world that was opened to her. Today we recognize her as that child, but also as the woman she became: civic-minded, politically active, and a standard bearer for the great causes of her age and of ours.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders spoke at a ceremony this morning in the Capitol Rotunda to unveil a statue of Helen Keller, a stalwart beacon of child education. The statue will become part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, which is comprised of two statues from each state to honor notable men and women. Below are the Speaker’s remarks:

“Members of House and Senate Leadership, Governor Riley, President Augusto and members of the Keller family: What a great day this is for America in the Capitol of the United States as we honor Helen Keller.

“As Helen Keller said: ‘My sympathies are with all who struggle for justice.’ In her lifetime, Helen Keller worked for opportunity for people with disabilities, for racial equality, and for the rights of women.

“In demonstrating that passion that she had, Helen Keller, in this statue in the Capitol, will always remind us that people must be respected for what they can do, rather than judged for what they cannot. Helen Keller ignited a century marked by progress for people with disabilities. We have made progress rooted in our national ideal that we are all created equal.

“For more than 30 years, a free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities has been required. For almost 20 years, fundamental civil rights for people with disabilities have been assured by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For a generation, closed captioning for televisions and relay services have helped remove barriers to participation in society. Let me also thank our signers who are here today.

Source: Office of the Speaker of the House

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Learning disability is a neurological disorder that hinders child development. It is a lifelong issue and cannot be cured. Children facing learning disabilities, with the right support and interventions, can succeed in school and go on to have a successful career and become distinguished figures in various aspects.

Children having learning disabilities face difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and organizing information without any help or if taught in the conventional ways. That does not suggest that they are less smart than other children. In fact, there are quite a lot of examples which prove that they can be more intelligent and smart than their peers.

There are a variety of learning disabilities in children. Read on some of the common learning disabilities in children.

* Dyslexia – It is a language based disability in which a child faces the problem of understanding written words. It is also referred as reading disability or reading disorder and is the most common of the learning disabilities in children.

* Dyscalculia – It is a mathematical disability in which a child faces difficulty in solving arithmetic problems and grasping the various concepts of mathematics. It is a complex disability and requires the intervention of skillful teachers. Arithmetic difficulties can be as pervasive as reading disabilities and demand similar attention and concern.

* Dysgraphia – It is a writing disability where a child finds it difficult to form letters, write within a defined space, poor handwriting and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Specific accommodations in the learning environment and additional practice will be beneficial for the one facing the disorder.

* Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders – It is a sensory disability where a child finds it difficult to understand language in spite of having normal hearing and vision. The child is unable to recognize and interpret information taken in through the senses.

* Nonverbal Learning Disabilities – This neurological disorder takes place in the right hemisphere of the brain. In case of this disability, a child finds problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluating and other processing functions. This disorder is quite hard to understand and diagnose. Children are unable to recognize and translate nonverbal gestures such as facial expressions or tone of voice. They are not able to provide appropriate response to nonverbal stimuli and are wrongly considered as emotionally disturbed and branded as “problem children”. This type of disability occurs less than language based learning disorders.

These are the common learning disabilities in children. Though these disabilities may be difficult to cure, yet the combined efforts of parents, teachers and professionals can help children to go ahead and attain success in the future. Encourage their strengths, know their weaknesses, understand the educational system and learn different strategies which will help children get rid of their weaknesses and of the their development.

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SSI makes monthly payments to people with low income and limited resources who are 65 or older, or blind or disabled. Your child under age 18 can qualify if he or she meets Social Security’s definition of disability for children and child behavior problems. The amount of the SSI payment is different from one state to another because some states add to the SSI payment. Your local Social Security office can tell you more about your state’s total SSI payment.

When we decide if your child can get SSI, we consider your child’s income and resources. We also consider the income and resources of family members living in the child’s household. These rules apply if your child lives at home. They also apply if he or she is away at school but returns home from time to time and is subject to your control.

If your child’s income and resources, or the income and resources of family members living in the child’s household, are more than the amount allowed, we will deny the child’s application for SSI payments.

Your child must meet all of the following requirements to be considered disabled and therefore eligible for SSI:

- The child must not be working and earning more than $980 a month in 2009. (This earnings amount changes every year.) If he or she is working and earning that much money, we will find that your child is not disabled.
- The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of conditions, that results in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit your child’s activities.
- The child’s condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months; or must be expected to result in death.

If your child’s condition(s) results in “marked and severe functional limitations” for at least 12 continuous months, we will find that your child is disabled. But if it does not result in those limitations, or does not last for at least 12 months, we will find that your child is not disabled.
Providing information about your child’s condition

When you apply for benefits for your child, we will ask you for detailed information about the child’s medical condition and how it affects his or her ability to function on a daily basis. We also will ask you to give permission for the doctors, teachers, therapists and other professionals who have information about your child’s condition to send the information to us.

If you have any of your child’s medical or school records, please bring them with you. This will help speed up the decision on your application.

Source: socialsecurity.gov

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