Kevin's Story

Susanne Day is a retired education specialist whose focus was physically
challenged, blind, and speech-impaired children.

This is an easy-to-read, easy-to-comprehend, very enlightening and very encouraging story of a learning disabled boy named Kevin. As the story begins, Kevin shows his sense of responsibility and his capable management of his paper route, but we realize what his problem is when we learn he can’t read his newspapers’ headlines or stories. We read of his frustration and unhappiness at home, at school, and with his family, teachers, and classmates. Finally, Kevin’s mother decides to have him tested by a psychologist; and much to Kevin’s surprise he not only likes the doctor but discovers he is really a bright boy except that he has a problem with reading and writing. He discovers there are lots of others like him and that people with learning disabilities like his have grown up to be successful in many different fields.

The story ends with Kevin proclaiming his intention to work hard and do his best but begging his family to believe in him and show him they love him as he begins a special programme set up for him within his own school.

This story should help average students understand the learning disabled child in their midst. Baffled parents of such a child should be enlightened and encouraged that their child is not so very unusual after all. The disabled child will be happy to read Kevin’s story, or have it read to him, and will feel a kinship with Kevin.