The Simon Chang Difference Maker Award | Difference Makers challenge the stigma of learning disabilities

What do actor Keanu Reeves, singer Cher and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles have in common? They all have learning disabilities yet have gone on to extremely successful careers.

The Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities (MCLD) believes that with the proper support, anyone can achieve their goals; a mission which guides their many innovative programs.

In recognition of their more than half-century commitment to supporting those with learning disabilities (LD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the MCLD is this edition’s recipient of the Simon Chang Difference Maker Award.

It is this dedication to Montreal families that led Nick Katalifos, director general of the English Montreal School Board, to nominate the MCLD for this recognition. “I’m very happy that the award is going to an organization that is highly deserving of this honour,” he said. “The Centre does wonderful work supporting children with learning difficulties and offers encouragement to our community as whole.”

“We are so moved and honored,” said Pam Wener, MCLD vice-president.

Originally called the Quebec Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, in the 1960s, the organization developed from a group of committed parents whose children were struggling in school. Learning disabilities were not well understood at the time, but through consistent petitioning, the families were able to get the help they required.

In 2014, the organization came into its own as the Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities and is now a registered charity, governed by a board of nine volunteer members. An annual $30 membership provides individuals and families with access to all of its programs, which are fee-based. The parent/adult ADHD support groups require membership; however, the service is free.

In addition to parent coaching, the MCLD offers the AQUA KIDS Program, the Life Skills Coaching Program and the Monthly Adult LD & ADHD Support Group at their location at the Queen Elizabeth Health Complex in NDG.

According to The Learning Disability Association of Canada (LDAC), LDs impact not just learning but also everyday functioning due to “impairments in one or more processes related to perceiving, thinking, remembering or learning.” In fact, according to LDAC, one in 10 Canadians has a learning disability. This can include dyslexia, visual tracking and executive functioning. LDs can also co-exist with ADHD, exacerbating difficulties with focus and retention.

When asked about her involvement in the organization, Wener related that she went to get support and information about dyslexia because her daughter was being bullied for it, and she wanted “to ensure that she would be successful in life.”

Wener also described discovering that she herself had a learning disability as an adult. It was after hearing the speaker’s description of what it is like to be married to a person with attention deficit disorder during a presentation that she said “hey, that sounds like me.” This epiphany of finally understanding why she did things a certain way or why she was always laboring over particular tasks is one she shares with other adults who have also had to develop coping strategies to perform academically or professionally.

MCLD funds initiatives at the English Montreal School Board’s Before and After School Enrichment program. “Their support is critical,” said its program development officer in Environmental Education, Melina Trimarchi.

Having ADHD herself, she connects to the students; “That’s just how my brain works: there are many types of intelligence and more than one way to do things.”

Another of the MCLD’s peer-led initiatives is the Ambassador Program. Children, teens and adults get public speaking training and present their experiences at schools and conferences, working to sensitize the public about learning disabilities. From struggling in school to excelling in post-secondary programs and careers, the ambassadors are testimonies of what can be achieved with the proper accommodation.

Breanna Pallante is one such ambassador. An advocate for speaking out, she said, “Growing up, I realized nothing would change if I was silent, so I have always been open about having an LD.”

She is also a passionate promoter of adapted technology, recognizing the impact it has had in facilitating her life. Whereas in the past, programs were out of reach for many people, she observed that adapted technologies are increasingly more main- stream, particularly in Apple devices.

One of Pallante’s latest involvements is co-leading the LD+ADHD Social Club pi- lot project at Dawson College. Though the group just started in September, it has been well-received, she said.

Simon Chang was delighted to meet the people that so passionately contribute their time to make the MCLD what it is today, including president Sana Nakhleh and the volunteer board members. “I congratulate the MCLD on all of the programming they do for their members, and all the families that they help. I am impressed by the amazing group of volunteers who, in such caring and innovative ways, are committed to helping those with LDs.”

Info: Centre Montréalais Pour Les Troubles D'apprentissage / Montréal Centre For Learning Disabilities

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