Columbia, SC (WLTX) - When someone hears that a child has a disability they may think of down syndrome or being physically disabled. But imagine having a disability that no one can see and others thinking you're just plain difficult.
"A couple years ago I couldn't read a chapter book," explained 5th grade Lake Carolina student Brad Cook. "I kept trying and trying."
"He is a joy to teach," said teacher Nikita Jones."He's one of my strongest readers."
"My classmates would sometimes laugh and pick on me because I couldn't read."
Jones and Brad are talking about the same boy. They're just talking about him at different ages.
"Back a couple years ago I felt like, I wasn't even a second grader or 3rd grader. I felt like I belonged in 1st grade," remembers Brad.
A few years ago Brad's mother Martha Lea noticed something just wasn't right.
"When he went to kindergarten his teacher and I noticed that he was not able to sit still," said Martha. "He tended to be a little aggressive because he was so frustrated."
Brad also started to fall behind in school. But it wasn't just academic.
"Depression, suicidal thoughts, manic behavior, low self-esteem. He had all of those."
Brad was hospitalized, monitored, and diagnosed with ADHD and a mood disorder.
"It was devastating," said Martha. "It's not like you can look at Brad and see that there's something wrong with him."You look at the kid and think, 'well you look normal. You should act normal.'"
But thanks to special education and people who care, Brad doing well is an understatement.
"His academics went through the roof. He scored exemplary on 3 out of 5 pass exams!"
He's even getting national attention being one of only 27-students in the United States and Canada to recieved the 2011 Yes I Can Award!, which recognizes academic excellence in children with disabilities.
"It's been a hard hard time watching Brad struggle the way he has and to have him get this award was amazing," said Martha.
And now not only does he know the periodic table.
"Hydrogen, helium," Brad recalls.
He knows something even more important.
"The sky's the limit!"
The award ceremony was near Washington DC, and was presented by the National Council for Exceptional Children.