Rays of Hope for Kids with Learning Disabilities
A Mother’s Journey to Help Her Son Overcome Adversity
PETALING JAYA: About 30 years ago, author Tunku Rafidah Mustapha sensed there was something not quite right with her middle child, Redza Ridzwan. As an infant, he suffered from seizures and frequent bleeding: it was soon discovered there was a blood clot lodged between his skull and brain.
A Slow Learner
Redza was also a slow learner. Only speaking at four years old, he couldn’t read well, and struggled to remember nursery rhymes and songs. The boy would often come home from school with bruises from minor accidents: falling from swings or tripping in class.
The Quest for a Solution
Concerned, she started looking for anyone who could help Redza. She and her husband eventually quit their jobs, travelling to London and Indonesia to find a potential solution for her son’s learning issues.
A Turning Point
Her quest eventually led her to Philadelphia, where she met with renowned American physiotherapist Glenn Doman and his Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. The Institutes proved to be a turning point in Redza’s treatment, with its programmes successfully helping him with his learning difficulties.
A Guide for Parents
The inspiring tale of Redza’s development is detailed in “Rays of Hope: A Guide for Parents with Brain Injured Children and Children with Learning Difficulties”, a self-published book by Tunku Rafidah. The book was launched on Nov 9 at the Royal Selangor Golf Club.
The Book
The book contains an honest account of Redza’s four-year journey undergoing the institute’s programme, and the various exercises he had to do. These included “creeping and crawling”, “masking”, and using a brachiation ladder (monkey bars). The book also includes various photographs of the author and their family, as well as detailed guides of the diet and lifestyle programmes Redza underwent. Advice is also presented for parents who wish to adapt Redza’s programme for their own children.
Conclusion
Tunku Rafidah hopes to eventually translate her book into Malay, to extend its readership reach. She hopes to leave a legacy and inspire parents to take an active role in their child’s education, whether they have learning disabilities or not.
FAQs
- What inspired the author to write her book?
The author was inspired to write her book after seeing the positive impact the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential had on her son’s learning difficulties. - What is the main message of the book?
The main message of the book is that parents can make a difference in their child’s education by taking an active role and seeking help when needed. - Is the book available in Malay?
Not yet, but the author plans to translate the book into Malay in the future.
Contact Information
For more information or to purchase the book, contact Rena at 019-300 7002.