The Map is not the Territory

A Stroll Through the Streets of the Kids Enabled Resource Fair

What’s the number one reason to attend the Kids Enabled Resource Fair?
Because it’s free? Well, that is a pretty good reason.
Another great reason is because it keeps you from getting lost…

I once became so lost while driving (this was before the GPS) in an unfamiliar town that I started to cry. Not because I was scared, but because I was so frustrated. I knew there was a simple way to my destination, but because I was increasingly angry, confused, and driving around and around in the same traffic circle, my ability to determine where I was and how to get to where I wanted to go was impaired. Not to mention that the map did not match the actual roads and landmarks. As the Polish-American philosopher Alfred Korzybski said, “The map is not the territory.”

Eighteen years ago my son was diagnosed with special needs. Once the shock wore off, my head was just clear enough to start studying the “map” of medical services, therapy, adapted academics, learning techniques, and community resources that were available. The information was dense and overwhelming, and I was not confident in my abilities to pick the most important and effective services for my son. So I took a lot of wrong turns, doubled back, tried some less-traveled byways, ran out of gas, blew a few tires, and got a speeding ticket or two. I knew there was a straightforward and logical way to get the services my son needed; I was just too frustrated and muddled to find it. I had a map with routes (therapy, tutoring, adapted services), but the actual territory was confusing and convoluted.

Fast forward to today and the Kids Enabled Resource Fair!

Now parents can have a one-stop experience in finding help for their kids with learning differences. Based on a neighborhood theme, the KE Resource Fair gathers therapy agencies, schools, camps, financial agencies, recreation organizations, dieticians, and specialized treatment options all exhibiting their expertise and services under one roof! Parents can stroll down School Circle, Therapy Lane, Recreation Road, or Nutrition Way and talk with professionals, gather reading material, and have hands-on interaction with the latest and greatest learning tools. Also, there are several speakers and presentations offering in-depth insight into different diagnoses and treatment plans.

And best of all, there are many parents at the KE Resource Fair who are going through the same struggles with their children, and they may feel less “lost” as they learn from each other’s experiences and challenges. Kids Enabled offers a friendly and informative “neighborhood” (territory) in which parents can learn and move forward in their journey to help their children succeed. So I say toss the map and come experience the territory for yourself!

I wish the KE Resource Fair had been around when I was a young mother facing my son’s new diagnosis. It would have saved me a few trips around that traffic circle!

More about the Kids Enabled Resource Fair