Barbara Rivera: A Teacher Calling her Son "Mentally Handicapped" Lead her to Open Own School

Two weeks into the school year in 1991, a teacher told Barbara Rivera that her son, Damon, was "mentally handicapped" and unable to read. The teacher also said he would require medication to learn.

The 58-year-old mom already had three sons and one daughter, whom she raised alone when she unofficially adopted a fifth child, Thor, upon the request of a friend who was diagnosed with a devastating medical condition, The Epoch Times reports.

Rivera admitted being shocked about what the teacher said of Damon. She told her Damon confused the letters B, D, P, and Q and the numbers six and nine. She claimed it was due to a learning or mental disability. The mother argued that the letters looked similar and it was still the second week of school. She felt the diagnosis was "unfair" and "illogical." 

Believing in her son's abilities

Rivera believed in her son's ability and was confident he would eventually get the lessons right. However, the teacher asked that his son undergo a medical evaluation. The mom was livid. She let the teacher know that if they allowed her son to undergo an evaluation without her consent, she would sue them. She stressed that she did not want her son evaluated and given mind-altering medication.

The mom described her son as honest, well-behaved, and one of the calmest children she had ever known. Her son wanted to become a policeman and play basketball for the National Basketball Association and was fluent in English and Spanish.

At that time, she was caring for two toddlers and was due to deliver her fourth baby. She found it challenging to give Damon the attention that he deserved, so she decided to keep Damon in public school to complete his first grade. But then, her decision made an impact on her son. He was unhappy and had stopped believing in his ability to learn.

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Homeschooling Damon

When Rivera noted that her son was struggling in school, she realized that her art had to take a backseat so she could save Damon. After she gave birth to her youngest, she created a "structured, organized school" at home. She homeschooled Damon, her 4-year-old daughter, and her children's friends from kindergarten to second grade.

Homeschooling gave her complete control over the information her child receives, allowing kids to pursue their interests. She based her schooling on Ron Hubbard's Learning How to Learn book, which emphasizes the importance of the definition of words and applying the lessons in real life. After two years of innovative teaching, Damon regained his organization skills, attention span, and communication skills while her other kids thrived in homeschooling.

In 1996, Barbara opened Hollywood Education Literacy Project (HELP) Miami, a nonprofit private school for children with disabilities. Since the school opened in 2016, the proud educator mom has received positive testimonies from parents and past students. Today, Damon is the vice president of the creative advertising and production agency Syslo Ventures.

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