2018 International Literary Award Winner One mother's personal journey through the world of special education needs: Have you ever wondered how it's possible for children to come out of the school system without being able to read and/or write? On navigating the mainstream school system with my own child, it became shockingly clear how disturbingly easy it was for individuals to get left behind and effectively be excluded from the curriculum, despite their physical presence in the classroom, especially when they have special, additional learning needs.Following my daughter's diagnosis of Williams Syndrome, a congenital disorder resulting in many and varied cognitive and medical health issues, one thing that was clear in my mind was that Amadi could and would learn to read despite her developmental delays. I had learned that many educational psychologists were of the view that any child could learn so long as they had a teacher that understood their particular difficulties and had the processes, willingness and understanding to administer them effectively. This made perfect sense to me; after all, it is the case that the true meaning of 'teacher' is to cause the student to learn (Oxford English Dictionary). I have found that it is not so much that the powers that be within the education system are oblivious to alternative methods of teaching our children, but more that, due to the constraints placed upon the service by a lack of resources, there is no political will to ensure that each child receives an appropriate education - despite clear legislation to ensure the contrary. I want to encourage all parents to become effective advocates by sharing our own very personal journey, in the hope that it will provide the inspiration needed to take on the education system for their child or someone they know. The law clearly states that each child is entitled to a free and appropriate education according to their particular needs. However, for reasons of expediency, our children get herded through the mainstream system as though they were one homogeneous group with the same aptitudes and proclivities for learning.Challenging the status quo is never easy; I knew that our journey would not be simple. It is an arduous process which is not for the feint-hearted. However, there is a wealth of research conducted by scientists, academics and educational psychologists who have detailed the workings of the brain and the part played by the sensory cognitive function in the process of learning. While the education systems focus on the strategy-based model of teaching, it is the process of learning that has been found to be important for many people who are missing out on the wonderful world of learning, simply because they are not being taught to read, write and count in a way that they can understand.I want to reach out to those of you who have an interest in these issues so that you know you are not alone. I trust that this book will provide enlightenment, understanding, support, encouragement and hope. You will learn that, although the future remains uncertain, the actions you take and the support you can provide during your children's school years will give them an enormous amount of self-confidence and allow them to excel to the best of their abilities.