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Things Your Mothers Want You to Know Hidden Disabilities

The Civil Rights of Students with Hidden Disabilities

Tools for Teaching Students with Hidden Disabilities

LD Online

There are many people with disabilities.  Most people think of something physical when they think of the word disability.  A wheelchair comes to mind for many.  But what about the hidden disability?  What is it?  And how do you know about it? As the Diocese celebrates a mass for persons with disabilities on December 9, 2001, I would like to take a minute to introduce you to Brian Woitynek.

Brian is a nine year old 4th grader in Freeport. He and his family now attend CCD classes and church in Lena. Brian has hidden disabilities. He has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder (ADHD) and Tourette's Syndrome.  Brian also has all the characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome (high functioning autism), obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and sensory integration issues.

What is having Tourette's like?  Tourette's is tics.  Sometimes tics can be weird facial movements, noises from the throat, jerky body movements, or even repetition of words or phrases. Think of the times you have had the hiccups.  You can't control those hiccups, and when they are ready to stop, they will.  That is a good way to describe what tics are, or what it can be like to have an obsessive type thought or behavior.  You can't stop it and you can't control it. Asperger Syndrome is a type of autism, and autism is a neurological disorder that affects the way a person interacts with others and his or her world. It's a disorder because it causes disorder in the life of the child.

Obsessive behavior, rage attacks, irrational outbursts, wild fears, and melt downs from irritability over the smallest issues. These problems are not misbehaviors, but rather the child's responses to an inability to comprehend what is going on around them and inside them.  It can be as if the brain is born speaking a different language. It can learn our language through careful instruction or self-instruction, but it will always retain its accent.

What's it like for Brian to live day to day with hidden disabilities?  He says it can be kind of fun sometimes.  He gets to do special things at school like use an Alpha Smart computer instead of having to handwrite sentences.  A lot of handwriting is stressful to Brian, and by eliminating some of the things that cause this stress his body can be calmer. What he doesn't like about the disabilities is that sometimes he can get really mad and not mean to be. He just can't always control what is going on with himself.

When asked what he likes to do to calm down he'll tell you his favorite things are to soak in the bathtub, rock to music, jump on a mini-tramp, and swing or spin. In school or church you will see Brian rock a lot. That is one way he compensates to make his body slow down and stay calm.

At home Brian likes to play with cars and his stuffed animals.  His favorite stuffed bear is named Brian Bear. He has 2 rabbits (Sam and Patches), a turtle (named Tina), and many fish. Nintendo, using the computer and watching videos are some favorite activities. He lives with his older sister Stephanie and his Mom and Dad,  Nancy and Jim.  He has an older brother, Sean, and a 2 ½ year old niece named Elizabeth.