Huron Expositor, 2009-05-06, Page 13•
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Dan Schwab
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Growing up, Leslie Andrew strug-
gled with learning disabilities, dys-
lexia, memory and hearing problems,
poor eyesight, severe asthma, weak
knees due to an accelerated growth
spurt, a nonfunctional vocal chord
and she couldn't read until Grade 6.
But all these setbacks didn't stop
her from earning several university
degrees, becoming a runway model,
singer and recording artist, vocal
coach, opera director, quilter, mo-
tivational speaker and sharing her
message with TV personalities Jay
Leno and Oprah.
As a keynote speaker during the
Great Principles for Success confer-
ence at Seaforth Public School May
2, Andrew brought more than a few
of the 40 audience members to tears
hearing her story about overcoming
the obstacles in her life.
The event focused on providing in-
formation for parents with children
with disabilities and Andrew told.
them she is "one example of a special
needs person who, with a lot of hard
'work, became a special adult."
Because Andrew had trouble with
numbers, reading, directions and oth-
er basic skills, she said she needed to
find a different way of approaching
problems and usually worked twice
as hard as others her. age to get by in
school.
"Being learning disabled, just get-
ting through my day was a victory,
so I . would mark my calendar with a
big "V" after every day," she says.
Andrew said as a child she wads
constantly excluded and chosen last
for teams and groups.
"One person and one sentence
changed my life," she says, about a
drama teacher who encouraged her
to audition for her high school's per-
formance of Fiddler on the Roof.
Years later, she would earn a lead-
ing role in the Stratford Festival's
version of the
same play.
In the years af-
ter high school,
Andrew taught
herself how to
learn in spite
of her learning
disability. She
uses helpful re-
minders to get
through her day,
such as carrying
around a tape
recorder and us-
ing the "triangle
method."
"I would draw a
triangle and put
the goal I wanted
,to . achieve at the
4ews.i
ker telis parents with children
be attentive' during conference
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The Huron Expositor • May 6, 2009 Pape 13'
Leslie Andrew shows an audience the
first book she ever learned to read,
The Secret Garden, in Grade 6.
top," she said. "It might be attaining
a university education or buying a
car. To achieve these goals, I would
need money and good grades, so I'd
write ways to get these things de-
scending down the triangle, marking
them off as I go through them."
As she moved forward, the trian-
gle would get smaller and smaller
and she would eventually reach her
goal.
"When I was featured in a quilting
magazine., they mentioned me not as
someone with a learning disability
but as a Canadian artist," she said.
"And that was at the top of my tri-
angle."
Andrew encouraged parents with
children with disabilities to be atten-
tive and teach them "there is more
than one way to do everything."
"Just because you can't write,
doesn't mean you're not a great
storyteller -- you can act," she said.
"Just because you can't draw, doesn't
mean you're not a great artist — you
can sculpt."
A motivational speaker since age
16, Andrew said she was once asked
by an audience. member if she could
change one thing about herself, what
it would be.
After listing off asthma, weak
knees and eyesight and a few other
physical - problems,
Andrew said the
audience went si-
lent.
The student
then asked why
she didn't list be-
ing learning dis-
abled.
"Being learning
disabled has giv-
en me an empa-
thy and sympa-
thy to the people
around me that
can't be taught,"
she answered.
Dave Higgins,
principal of spe-
cial education
with Avon Mai-
tland District
School Board,
who formally
thanked Andrew
for sharing her
inspirational sto-
ry, said he hoped
parents would
take away from
the conference
a better sense
of how they can
support their
children.
The event, or-
ganized by the
board's Special
Education Advi-
sory Committee,
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Tues. Sat. 9a.m. - 6 p.m�
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Located on H 8 Seaforth (Beside the Freeze King) ,
also included a series of workshops
on parent advocacy, communication
and other topics.
"We're letting parents know what
programs and services are available
within the school board and how
they can communicate and work to-
gether with their child's school," he
said. "We're all committed to work-
ing with parents to ultimately see
their kids achieve and be successful
in school."
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
Drop by and enter a draw
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