I find it sad that I see so many people’s stories here who seem lost in the world. I feel for them and their plight. Looking back on it, I know I have beaten the odds in many ways and consider myself incredibly fortunate for that. I wound up in a good career as a technologist, although not without its bumps. Even in my forties, I struggle with things like existential depression and navigating the questions of the world that are part of the human condition. I suspect many with NVLD experience these questions more intensely than the average person does. Below I will give some aspects of my story, as well as things that have worked for me and may work for someone else. Read More
The NVLD Project Blog
While Non-Verbal Learning Disability is a Learning Disability and it’s not part of the Autistic spectrum, there are a few similarities between the two disabilities. The two most common similarities are social skills and coping with change difficulties. As a result, some students qualify to apply to comprehensive support programs for students on the Autistic Spectrum too. Given that some students with an NVLD need Social Communication Support too, which is included in Autistic Spectrum support programs. Just like some autistic students qualify for admission to learning disability support programs due to academic difficulties. So in this piece, I will discuss a few of the great programs. Read More
In my last two pieces, I discussed the different post-secondary options for students with an NVLD and other disabilities. Now I will discuss what is needed to help you gain admission to the comprehensive support programs at colleges like Curry and Dean College.
The first thing you need to do is to take as many of the regular courses as possible when starting high school while being realistic about your disability too. For example, for a student with an NVLD, taking a lower level of Math would be understandable, as spatial skills are often the biggest weaknesses for those with an NVLD. However, taking the lower level of History would likely be viewed as negative, as so much of the subject is memorizing facts, and that’s a strength for students with an NVLD, so you should be showing your ability, not disability, here. In my personal experience, working at the Dean and Curry College Open houses and having a father who is a school counselor, this is a big reason for rejection, as colleges can question your ability to overcome obstacles. Read More
In my previous piece, I discussed the different types of transition and postgraduate programs for students with an NVLD and other disabilities. Now I will discuss the different college possibilities, as each college offers different levels of support and values inclusion differently. So hopefully the examples I share will help you understand the different options for students with an NVLD and other learning disabilities. Read More
When people hear my nice accent in a foreign language, they naturally assume I am fluent. But my language-learning journey reveals a very different reality: smooth pronunciation often hides struggles. As long as I can remember, even back in middle school, I made more progress in class than in immersion. Read More
While preparing for life after high school is a big decision for all seniors, it is even harder for students with NVLD and other learning disabilities. Given that colleges do not provide equal amounts of support and not every college is equally inclusive, these students have a harder time choosing the place for themselves. In addition, not every student is ready to start a traditional college curriculum and would be a better candidate for a residential transition program. So in this piece, I will discuss how and where students with NVLD and similar disabilities experience great post-secondary success. Read More
1. Take advantage of disability accommodations: This is extremely helpful for extra time on tests, figuring out which classes may be easiest with fulfilling math or science distributions (learned the hard way to only take easy classes first semester after withdrawing from a psychology class because I was failing), and if your school allows it, getting a single as a first-year since an incompatible roommate can make your life hell. Read More
Exactly 1 year ago, I was diagnosed with NVLD at 26 years old. When the clinician called me to discuss the results and confirmed I had NVLD, I cried, since my teen years and college (especially the latter, where I especially struggled socially due to lack of structure and burnout) would’ve been less isolating and stressful with an appropriate diagnosis. Read More
It’s no secret that I am a true believer that each inclusion decision should be individualized, as every student has different overall needs. However, I am also realistic that for each decision to be completely successful both inside and outside of the classroom, the proper support is so helpful. So in this piece, I will discuss the different forms of inclusion options for students with an NVLD and other Learning Disabilities. Read More
My boyfriend introduced me to the sport 4 years ago, and at first I got into it without any expectations; at the beginning, progress came quickly, but soon enough, I felt completely overwhelmed, leaving the gym exhausted and frustrated.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever go beyond V3s as my baseline anymore because it’s like being tone deaf in music: I simply lack spatial intuition, and I am unable to form mental images in my head. I end up wasting way too much energy on a single movement while some make it look effortless. At V3s and below, the holds are generally good enough to figure out the movements directly on the wall, but above V3, the hesitation costs me way too much energy, and I freeze because I don’t have that instant spatial map. Getting stronger helped me hang onto worse holds longer, but I still felt something was off. Read More
