Contact us: Email: winsfoundation@aol.com New York: 666 West End Ave., Suite 15-S New York, NY 10025 212-580-3051 (Phone) 212-580-0467 (Fax)

The WINS Foundation
We're Important, NOT Stupid

Why WINS

Though teachers see them every day, they are often the unseen students. At all levels from elementary school through high school, there are students who just do not seem to get it. They do assignments poorly or not at all, though they may occasionally surprise their teachers and parents with a bit of exceptionally well done work. But they cannot sustain that level of effort. Their grades are below average or worse.

Most are not rowdy, disruptive or violent. On the contrary, they often are almost invisible. And, though they may have friends, they feel isolated, alone, and even worthless. Tutoring might help in some cases. Psychological counseling might help a little. Grounding and restriction of privileges usually do not help. They are a disappointment to their teachers, to their parents, and especially to themselves. Yet these young people cannot offer any clues about what is wrong.

They are the children with moderate learning disabilities, such as visual, organizational, auditory, and some cognitive disabilities. Some are borderline ADD or ADD without hyperactivity. Through testing and evaluation, they might be designated as "504 students" or some similar indicator of moderate learning disabilities. Surprisingly, test results may indicate that some of them are gifted, but the teachers cannot understand why they don't produce. They are not severely learning impaired with severe ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit and/or Hyperactive Disorder), PDD (Pervasive Developmental Delay), cerebral palsy, autism, or traumatic brain injury which would qualify them for "special ed." programs.

In the end, most of these students are not even tested, and they are simply labeled "lazy", both at school and at home. They fall into a crack between gifted and special education. They become disillusioned and frustrated adults who often move from one low paying job to another, sometimes using alcohol or other substances to dull the pain of their lives.

The bottom line is: there are very few programs designed for these young people, even though school systems usually say otherwise. They seldom receive psychological counseling or tutoring from learning disabled specialists. And, most importantly, their numbers are growing.

Yet something in them insists: I AM IMPORTANT. I AM NOT STUPID!

Carl Purcell is such a student.

WINS funds campaigns to identify and help learning disabled students through 3 main efforts:

• First, WINS sponsors Dr. Purcell and other nutritionally-oriented doctors, chiropractors, and nutritionists to speak to schools, parent organizations, teachers, special education teachers, counselors, school boards, psychologists, and other professionals about the nutritional and natural methods that can be used to help these students.

• Second, WINS sponsors training programs for nutritionists, naturopaths, naturopathic physicians, chiropractors, and nutritionally - oriented M.D.s to teach the natural methods and protocols that help learning disabled students overcome the physiological difficulties that keep them from realizing their natural talents, abilities and worth. These health care professionals will also be able to assist children with ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder), PDD (Pervasive Developmental Delay), tic disorder, autism, and traumatic brain injury reach their maximum potential.

• Third, WINS sponsors an annual competition to help learning disabled students find areas of talent and competence. Winners of the competition are featured in annual versions of Carl's Calendar.

At last WINS can help those who previously were lost to take their rightful places among the best and the brightest!

WINS gratefully receives donations for its work. Please mail your contribution to the New York address shown at the top of the page.