Miss South Carolina International Helps Students with Learning Disabilities

April 2, 2011 - PRLog -- The newly crowned Miss South Carolina International is using her program for learning disabled students as her platform.  Mentors Matter was created due to Chelsea's own struggle with a processing disorder and ADD.  She considers herself fortunate that her parents never gave up trying to find the answer to her challenges.

"Having a learning disability is a double whammy to most students," Chelsea says.  "They are trying to fit in as it is, and do not want to draw attention to themselves by asking for special help or accommodations in school."  Chelsea believes this is a real problem because unless the student and their family is informed, they don't realize that learning disabilities are not a sentence to being dumb and unproductive.  "It just means students learn differently and many are extremely bright!"

Mentors Matter is a program that Chelsea started while at Gardner-Webb University.  It started out as just an online resource with her story and tips and techniques for being successful.  Once her special needs office at the school found out about her program, she was able to hold support group get togethers to help students discuss and talk about their challenges and how to overcome them.  

"I am a mentor for the Noel Program that assists special needs students at GWU.  I love being able to help other students with the help I received.  I can't believe how my life has turned out due to my support group, doctor, family and behavior modification."

Chelsea will be holding workshops for schools, PTA's, and any other group interested in a practical workshop to learn life skills necessary for the learning disabled student.  Eventually Chelsea wants to get as far as Washington, DC to lobby for more funding.  "My school district did not help me very much because of funding cuts.  And that was terrible!  Every student deserves a good education."

In order to access Chelsea's blog and website go to www.wix.com/sbgregory45/mentors-matter.

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Mentors-Matter is a non profit founded by Chelsea Rae Gregory, Miss SC International. The program offers workshops, support groups and a website resource that helps students with learning disabilities get into college and be successful in life.