Dana Buchman On Helping Learning Disabled Children With The Promises Project

A learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to process information in a normal way. Eighty-three percent of children in New York City with learning disabilities never receive a diploma and untreated learning disabilities often lead to depression, low self-esteem substance abuse and even crime.

That's why fashion designer Dana Buchman made a promise to change the way learning disabilities were treated and help kids succeed with the Promise Project.

In recognizing the need, through the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at CUMC and the direction of Dr. Bradley Peterson, Chief of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the PROMISE Program was developed to help underprivileged children who are struggling to learn with the latest state of the art approach that Columbia University Medical Center can provide.

Step 1: Identifies the exact nature of each child's learning disability
- Cognitive abilities: verbal, visual-spatial, memory/learning, attention/executive functioning and motor abilities
- Academic Skills: reading, writing and math
- Psychological functioning: motivation and view of self as a learner
Step 2: Recommends what services the child needs in order to learn
Step 3: Helps obtain recommended services
Step 4: Guides parents on how to help the child at home and at school
Step 5: Follows up and tracks long-term results

For more information on the Promises Project, visit www.promisesproject.org.