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| Take Part in a Miracle |
Most of us are quite fortunate to have no awareness of the world children with language learning disabilities must face. Imagine the frustrations of class work as these children struggle to grasp what appears to be easy for others. In some cases, their inability and embarrassment causes them to turn too much inward seeking solace and escape. In milder cases, the hurt does not debilitate, but does remain for life.
Fortunately, many children with these afflictions can learn to live normal lives without the frustrations that would have been their lot in the recent past. Sadly, many will live these frustrations unnecessarily.
Advances in research give a better understanding of these problems and provide methods of teaching children to overcome these difficulties. Today, teaching professionals are producing results that a decade ago would have seemed miraculous. Even more encouraging is the news that advances in this field continue at an accelerating pace.
We now know that when language disorders are recognized at their earliest stage, the success rate is greatly enhanced. Children who are diagnosed and begin therapy as preschoolers achieve the highest levels of success. Unfortunately, this is an age when children are most likely to not be covered by insurance or eligible for government assistance.
Some children who suffer these difficulties are fortunate enough to have been born into
families who can afford up-to-date treatment for their problems. Tragic are the many children who must bear this heartache
throughout life because of their parent's inability to pay for costly therapy. Tragic as well are the heartaches of the parents.
Many are the prayers which parents offer on behalf of these children. Too often these prayers seem to go unanswered. With early detection and treatment, a child can often achieve development equal to his or her peer group.
For our age, and particularly for Freemasons, the ancient derogatory question "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" has a different answer than it did 2000 years
ago. As Scottish Rite Masons, we are proud to provide financial assistance to children with language communication disorders whose parents could not otherwise afford the treatment that can mean a new life for their children.
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The Scottish Rite / UMC Language Preschool Program
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The power of language creates the synaptic response whereby we learn to create our world. Language allows our imaginations to impregnate our world with the ancient Gods, the great philosophers, the knowledge of the past, and the dreams of our future.
Every child should have the experience of floating down the Mississippi with Tom & Huck, to walk with Martin Luther King, Jr., or to know the triumph of Helen Keller. These and other great adventures should not remain an unopened book for any child.
Not so long ago the highest goal was to teach children with language disorders only enough "to get by". More was inconceivable and less was too often the accomplished result. Our goal is to allow these children the opportunity
to live with the great minds of antiquity, to know the heroes of the past, and to be creators of the future.
We feel that the language preschool concept is a wonderful tool to aid in developing the skills needed by children with language disorders. In January, 2000, the pilot program for the Scottish Rite / UMC Language Preschool was established. The full preschool program is scheduled to begin in September, 2000. The program exploits the fact that children can learn and
practice many aspects of language better with other children than from teachers alone. Fundamental to the Scottish Rite / UMC
Language Preschool is the idea to add typically developed children as role models for the rest of the class.
Each child receives individual therapy as needed and then returns to the preschool setting. This atmosphere also encourages the development of social skills so greatly needed, but often, lacking in the disadvantaged children whose parents have provided a "protected" environment for their child.
The Scottish Rite's Robert G. Combs Children's Disorders Clinic provides scholarships for preschool children who cannot otherwise afford treatment. All testing and treatment is done by qualified professionals. Naturally, available regardless of race or creed.
Through the support of Scottish Rite members of the Columbia Valley, children who would normally be denied this learning resource are achieving successes that could only be imagined a few years ago.
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How you can help eliminate language and learning problems in children
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Both members and non-members of the Scottish Rite can assist in this worthy humanitarian effort. Direct donation is one
way to assist this effort. Another way to assist is through estate planning. A bequest to the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri for the R.G. Combs Clinic can be designated for support of our children's charity. Gifts, of course, are tax deductible as provided by law.
Children are the hope or our future. Please help us make a significant contribution to that future.
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