Eye to Eye participants work toward brighter future for learning-disabled

Aapta Garg Guest Writer

Ever feel frustrated because you can’t understand a formula or break your writer’s block? Imagine taking about twice as long as to do homework compared to every other kid in your class.

Li Cornfeld ’06 found herself in this situation as early as third grade. “When I was in third grade…my teacher suggested that I work with a timer,” she said. “That was terrible because every time I tried to work, all I would hear is the ticking of the timer, and then it would ding and I would not be nearly as far as I would have liked. That made it a lot more stressful.”

In her junior year of high school, Cornfeld was diagnosed with executive processing disorder, which makes it difficult to process information. Now Cornfeld works to help students at Oakland Friends School with learning disabilities through a mentoring program called Project Eye to Eye.

Started a couple of years ago by two learning-disabled students at Brown University, Project Eye to Eye links learning-disabled children in K-12 programs with college mentors who are also learning disabled.

Vassar mentors meet with younger students twice a week. They meet for an hour of “one-on-one time,” engaging in bonding activities such as playing Frisbee, going on walks, hanging out and talking, or working on homework.

Eventually, mentors bring up disability issues. Li elaborated: “For example, I might say, ‘You know what was really hard for me this week? I had a big paper due, and so did my roommate, and in the time it took me to write the first page of mine, she had almost finished hers…Was anything like that frustrating for you?’”

The entire group also meets weekly to do an art project. “The art projects are designed to get kids to think about how they think, and to help empower kids who might be struggling in the classroom by providing them with a different medium for success,” said Cornfeld.

The project exists to “build confidence and esteem and empower kids,” said Cornfeld. “The aim of Eye to Eye is…to create a LD/ADHD community and what is central to that is having role models to look up to who maybe didn’t go through exactly what you are going through but something very similar… ‘Somebody just like me did it and now I can, too.’”

Cornfeld said the program has also had a positive impact on her. “A really great part about the program is that while you’re working to help empower the middle-schoolers, you end up empowering yourself.

“...I think when explaining to someone else why working is really great for you, how it’s not bad, I think it makes you realize ‘Oh yeah, I like the way I work.’”

Students with learning disabilities bring unique understanding and experience to their mentees. “There are a lot of things I have difficulty with, but there are also a lot of things I like the way I think for,” said Cornfeld. It took me a long time to get to that point.”

Vassar was one of the first schools to start a chapter, which officially began work last semester. Participants began working with children from the Oakland Friends School and continue that practice this semester with the hope of expanding to public schools.

Approximately five percent of students enrolled in public schools have a learning disability, according to the U.S. Department of Education. These learning disabilities can have consequences relating to both their ability to achieve their learning potential and their self-esteem. Eight colleges and universities participate in Eye to Eye.