So often I am asked this question. Either by chance (or by professional referral, if they are lucky) a family has found us. They are relieved to be able to identify their child, but they want to know what they can DO!
The September 1995 edition of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry states: "Support groups can complement...(by) enhancing self-esteem, learning new coping skills, or increasing a family's comfort... Tapping the great potential of support groups and building links between mental health services and self-help groups would be a major step on our path to becoming the truly integrates biopsychosocialists that we (psychiatrists) aspire to be." (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 40, No. 7 pp. 367-368, 1995)
The Canadian Hyperlexia Association is working toward that goal. We are continually sending information to families and professionals that inquire about Hyperlexia. To date, we have a data base of over 700 contacts. We are offering telephone support daily to worried, curious or enthusiastic parents, teachers, speech-language pathologists, physicians and psychologists. Reva Schafer and her family hosted the first annual CHA picnic...and what a success it was! Parents, grandparents and teachers enjoyed that wonderful opportunity to share stories, ideas, and great food.
We presented more seminars, including a successful presentation at the Geneva Centre on August 29. (Another is scheduled there for March, 1997). Global News did an excellent feature story on Hyperlexia which aired 3 times on September 20. Reva Schafer, Janyce Lastman and I presented at the Twelfth Annual Conference on the Language Disordered Child, entitled The Syndrome of Hyperlexia: Language, Social, Sensory and Educational Interventions, in Chicago, IL, in October. More details on this wonderful conference will be published in our spring journal.
So, what do we do now? The new articles on our homepage and in the new edition of The Reader contain what we feel to be many useful strategies for families and professionals. The article on social stories outlines in more detail one way many children with Hyperlexia have learned to socialize successfully.
We would love to be able to network even more effectively. Please consider joining The Canadian Hyperlexia Association, and when you do, indicate whether or not you would like to be in our "networking directory". (We will not include any members in this special directory without their permission). Have you been successful with a strategy that we have yet to mention? Do you have a delightful anecdote to share? We encourage you to write down your personal stories and send them in!
Please enjoy our newest updates to the CHA Home page and feel free to send me a note if you have any comments.
