Learning Disability
A learning disability is a neurological disorder that selectively interferes with how a person picks up and stores information traveling through the senses to the brain and impedes a persons ability to read,write or compute mathematics. People with learning disabilites have average to above average intelligence and can even be gifted. Learning disabilities are not a form of *mental retardation. They are not a form of emotional disturbance or simply an excuse to be lazy and not apply ones self.
* The term mental retardation has been replaced with intellectually disabled. However it seems that terms change constantly in this politically correct world these days and the author means no offense by using the outdated mental retardation in this definition. This passage is found on page 172 of the book Within These Pages entitled Learning Disabilties.
For reviews, testimonials , other excerpts from the book etc, please scroll further down on this page. Each section is numbered 1 to 6. Section 1 has a review of my poetry book Coming Out of the Closet and Breaking the Chains. Section 2 is an excerpt from the book Within These Pages. Section 3 contains testimonials from people who either read Within These Pages or poetry I have written. Section 4 is a review done on Within These Pages , section 5 is an unpublished version of a poem I wrote in which three more can be found in Within These Pages and 6 is a poem taken from my first collection of poetry. Thank you for visiting the website.
1. Powerful Poetry to Awaken Change, Many pages have been turned in my life. Some are as fragile and as thin as leaves maturing in autumn. Some are white with the scent of ink still traceable waiting to be read and turned, unfolding a new passage. ~Tascha Dresser Tascha Dresser wrote her first poem at the early age of 12 and continues to write poems about all the experiences in her life. These beautiful poems have evolved from a deep place within her soul where she has fought to overcome life's obstacles To read her poems is to understand the frustration of a highly intelligent woman who has fought overwhelming odds to climb from the closet of her past just to feel the sun on her face and to finally recognize that people who struggle to learn at an early age have rights that are protected by law. They deserve to be loved and they deserve to succeed. Tascha's poems show a depth of emotional intelligence I've rarely seen in poetry. This is the cry of her soul for equal treatment in an unfair world. Yet, even in the darkness of her disappointment over how the world treats her in her childhood, she shows a beautiful appreciation for what is right about her life. There are poems about love, dreams, friendship and being human. Tascha begins with a poem about a star emerging inside her. She knows that she has value and gifts to give the world. Yet, this star waits for the right time to shine. She knows she has the power to change attitudes by showing her experiences, the depths of her despair, her longings and especially her desires for a better future for all the children who are trapped in the closet of disbelief. We all have the same basic needs and should never be denied the pleasure of a dream. I found the images of "stars" throughout the book to be quite interesting. The visual images of a star rising from Tascha's soul in "Emerging" are only a small taste of the metaphors Tascha paints across the canvas of your mind. In one poem, "Hate" becomes a wild horse with icy breath and blood red eyes. She takes this image and in "The Horse, Part II" she expands on the idea and beautiful paints images of hearts disappearing in the distance. Then in "The Horse - A Warning," we learn the final result of the ride on the horse called "Hate." The images will remain in your mind long after your heart has comprehended the meaning and understood the implications of allowing hate into your life. As images of pain turn into power, many of the poems will be understood by anyone who has been through a terrible night of the soul and survived to see the first light of day. There is power in survival and Tascha Dresser's poems speak of a woman who has passionately struggled through a situation where she was denied basic human rights.The impressions of her struggle are quite vivid when woven into the poems of the closet. I will never forget the powerful images in "Who's in the Closet?" For me, this poem explains the true purpose of "Coming Out of the Closet and Breaking the Chains." People are starving for love, understanding, attention and affection. But we lock people away by not listening to them, by verbally abusing them, not believing in them or by not seeing them for who they truly are and all while people are starving for kindness. This book of poems is not only about life's challenges; it is also an expression of all the emotions everyone feels during the cycle of life. Who were we when we were born, who have we become and what will we become, even after we die. Tascha's emotions range from deep sorrow over the state of the world to a high level of frustration because she can see the solutions so clearly, yet others seem blind to her pain. Very few poems contain blatant anger (Like in "Not At This Time"), but when they do, she uses this emotion to awaken you to a new level of awareness. An awareness where you hope that these poems will encourage us all to react more diplomatically and be more sensitive to the needs of people who need our support and love. In "What Words Can't Explain" I understood the lines about wishing people could read between the lines because at times even words cannot express your true feelings. In "I'm A Diamond," we meet an individual who always throws "diamonds in the dirt" and recognize how the inability to see beauty traps people in their own game. "Coming Out of the Closet and Breaking the Chains" is a collection of poems I really needed to read because I needed to let Tascha's words mingle with my own thoughts about the state of the world and about the need for all of us to show more love. By reading her poems, I will now see the world with new eyes because if Tascha could survive her past, then all of us can survive the daily challenges we face. Tascha's life was not a life any child deserved and I hope that her poems will inspire a deeper awareness of how children who struggle to learn, truly view their lives. I cried three times while reading this book. I am so proud of Tascha for writing these poems and for sharing her experiences so we can all become kinder, more beautiful human beings. Highly Recommended.~TheRebeccaReview.com
2. Within These Pages:Why do some employers overlook people with disabilities when making hiring decisions? Perhaps it is because if you have two people equally as qualified for the same job, one with a disability , one without, the employer thinks it is easier to hire the person without a disability than it would be to hire the one with a disability. This way he or she does not have to go out of the way to make reasonable accommondations that could cost money , time and effort. It is an easy decision.So the company and store or place of employment saves money. It is easy for the employer to do this but, not for the person who is seeking employment with a disability. Having to go through life with the lable of damaged almost attached to your forehead is stigmatizing and unfair. I believe it is an unspoken or unwritten rule that merchandise, even people who are slightly damaged , are not worth the price. Although we may still be human , our value as human beings and productive citizens and employees diminsihes in the face of a disability with employers.
I came to be an advocate for people with learning disabilities out of my own struggles with learning disabilities. I grew up with a learning disability called dyscalculia which impedes my ability to calculate mathematics, and while in school never recieved adequate help or attention for it, which would have helped me to get my high school diploma. Later I discovered I had rights in public school my mother and I were never informed about. So I set out to read everything I could about learning disabilities and share that information with others that may be struggling the same way I had been. So I used my life experiences and took clues from it to realize what my purpose was and is. I believe God gives us clues about the purpose he has for us in our life experiences , both the bad and the good. I believe even a disability can be his way of directing us towards that purpose. It is like he is telling us this is a problem I want you to help fix. And when he gives us abilities and talents along with our struggles, he is saying these are the tools you need to help this problem.
(Excerpts from Within These Pages: Disabilities in the Work World and Driven by Purpose by Tascha Lee Dresser. Within These Pages can be found at these online sources Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Half.com, Overstock.com( I can not find a more affordable price then at Overstock.com @ $17.95 shipping included),Powellsbooks.com,at www.flipkart.com( for the people in india who would like to get my books ( both of them)), PublishAmerica.com etc.,with prices ranging from $14.95 and up and of course from your favorite book store. Remember when a book is in demand a book store might be compelled to stock it so be sure to ask for it at your favorite book store if you can and let those stores know you are interested in Within These Pages. A note to book stores or any venues for books: If you are interested in hosting an event featuring Within These Pages e mail me here @
TaschaDresser@PublishedAuthors.net or at Icaria2@aol.com and let me know so we can make arrangements and set a datethank you. )
" I really like your Wild flowers 5 poem. I liked the way you used the wild flower as something or someone that one doesn't notice and keeps going on about their lives....I'm wrong you can tell me but, that's what I interpreted. I'm an English major." -Cindy New Jersey
" Cudos to Ms. Dresser for being so open minded and diverse. She is a very insightful and talented writer"- Steven E. Blume Los Angeles, California.
"Tascha Dresser's WildFlowers 5 poem is almost like a philosophical Treatise. It seems almost a narrative . I want to keep reading more as a story "-Marvin Sly Queen Creek Arizona
"Tascha Dresser's Wild Flower poems are beautiful! I love the way she so poigantly depicts people distancing away from the homeless people just because of their looks".- Pradeep England.
"I congratulate Ms Dresser .... her thinking is flawless! I found she has put some very profound suggestions in her book Within These Pages for people with learning disabilities".- Jim Ganan , San Jose, California
"Tascha Dresser was definitely born to shine brightly for those who can't speak up for themselves"- Rebecca Johnson Issaquah, WA
" Tascha Dresser astounds me! Her talent is incredible- extraordinary! Truly she is gifted. If her work does not rip the tears from your heart, the world has gone blind, deaf, dumb-and insane. I believe she is destined for greatness".- Janice Turner Efland NC
"Ms Dresser has a great gift for explaining things that are intangible. It is like she has read my mind..-Phyllis Burton Delmont PA
"I think Tascha Dresser's Wild Flower poems are awesome and they could be Bob Dylan Lyrics" - Scott Davis Puyallup Washington
"Oh my god! I am speechless! Tascha Dresser's Wild Flower poems are deep! It is like feelings everyone has but can't get it out or explain it."_ Doug Hill, Seattle Washington .
"I loved all of Tascha Dresser's book Within These Pages. The Wild Flower poems in it were amazing. I started reading it and was hooked.- Bret Berman Salem Oregon.
Breaking the Chains. She is so talented and an amazing Lady!" -Tullene Jeffries Nappa Valley Ca.
" I love Tascha Dresser's Book, Within These Pages. She is so authentic, honest and down to earth in it." Anjali Sarkar , Silver Spring, Maryland.
4. Poetic Monthly Volume 50
Publisher: Publish America, Baltimore, Md
Author: Tascha Lee Dresser
Title: Within These Pages
Reviewed by Maggie Grinnell
I was intrigued by Ms. Dresser's book, Within These Pages.
The introduction of her book starts out," Let my voice be heard and I hope it touches you.". Well, it did. The words conveyed in this book are from her life, her experiences and could apply to just about anyone. Some chapters cover certain issues such as trust, pornography, imagination and loneliness.
The chapter" The faces we wear: Lables and roles" states that roles can be chosen and lables are a way of categorizing something about us. Ms. Dresser goes on to explain how roles are based on strengths and not on faults and to lable people are to decrease(sic) their limitations. The rolemodel is someone who you identify with, admire, respect, and someone who has a strong character and a good moral sense.
Ms Dresser does have a disability, mild cerebral palsy but that doesn't hinder her. She states that people with disabilities can , and do, feel bad about themselves when they have trouble with a subject in school. They even put on masks; class clown, bully, the flirt and know it-all.
In one chapter , she discusses dysfunctional families; I come from a dysfunctional family so I can relate. My family members in the past , and sometimes now, do not work together to grow with each other.
I agree, as well other lovers of books, that books are the best affordable education . They need no classrooms or school walls to teach, they just need our willingness to read them.
She does go on to state that books are entertaining, informative and educational. Some people shy away from books due to a learning disability. They just need to practice reading and increase their reading comprehension. Books need to be read to fulfill their purpose.
I will close with mentioning a chapter Ms. Dresser wrote on life. The world can be filled with danger and sorrow but it is also filled with happiness, wonder and joy. It is up to us to improve the original design.
I thoroughly(sic) enjoyed this book of words that deal with everyday issues each of us , in one way or another face.
I give this book ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
Reviewed by Maggie Grinnell
Poetic Monthly Magazine
5. © 2010 by Tascha Dresser
The Wild Flowers by Tascha Dresser
Do we envy them secretly?
For they grow without being put in their place
Or potted like domestic plants in a nursery!
They merge all over the fields ,green with new grass,
spotting the world with color.
Their scent travels through the air announcing their presence to all.
Or are we afraid to be like them?
Are we afraid because we cling so tightly to where we have planted ourselves,
that we can scarcely move and we laborously take in the little bit of oxygen
to our lungs, struggling to live, fighting to grow!
Or do the wild flowers envy us?
Are they weary from growing out in the open and
being ignored or taken for granted; perhaps never seen?
And seen as only worthless debris floating around
in the world as lilly pads float in a pond?
Are they debris? No, they are human beings struggling
desparately to be seen, fighting to hold on to their dignity,
hoping and praying that once they may have a place like ours
And value that can only be measured by our all too human hearts.
Dare we feel and be guided by hearts knowing they may very well
cause us to open our eyes and notice one of the wild flowers we
taught ourselves to envy and despise?
This is my first original version of my Wild Flowers Poem that is unpublished. For three more poems like this one get my book Within These Pages or visit www.poeticmonthly.com and look for Wild Flowers 5 in issue 44 of PoeticMonthly magazine. Their pdf version of the magazine is free to view. Enjoy!
6 © 2003 by Tascha Dresser
Murderer of Dreams
I stand here among the ruins
of every dream you have destroyed.
You play with people's hopes
like they were your toys.
But can't you see I'm too strong?
You can't do that to me.
Dreams are all I ever had.
That's why I'm holding on.
Even if the years roll by
like wandering clouds,
even if I have to dig my way out
after I've been burried alive in doubt ,
even if there's nothing left
but a glimmer of a dream,
I won't surrender myself to you.
That's something I would never do.
You're a murderer of dreams.
I've seen you take away
everything from those who are weak.
I made a promise to myself;
I wasn't going to let you take everything from
me.
You told them you can make them
forget their hurt
but you pushed the knife in deeper
and made the blood flow worse.
Even if I have to make a ocean of tears,
even if I have to wait for years,
even if I have to face my worst fears,
I'll never surrender to you.
That's something you'll never see me do.
You're a murderer of dreams.
You'll never hold my heart in your hands,
I want you to understand.
I'd never give you control of something so
valuable
and no matter what you do I'm not going to let
go.
I stand here among the ruins
of every dream you destroyed.
You play with people's hopes
like they were your toys.
It's plain to see,
you're a murderer of dreams
but you'll never have me.
Taken from the book Coming Out of the Closet & Breaking the Chains: Poetic Views from the other side of a special education classroom. If you would like to read more poems like this please get the book. Thank you.