I’ve posted before, back at the start of my journey post ‘diagnosis’ of being NVLD. One thing is to note, it is a journey – I was pleased initially to have an explanation of my challenges, and then later became frustrated as I realized the day will never come when I can play chess or win an argument. Read More
If we choose to focus on everything a child cannot do, we fail to recognize their gifts. The educational system had a way of reflecting all of my weaknesses. But as a child, the library and books became my sanctuary-a quiet place to escape the noise and step into magical worlds filled with fairies and fantasy. Read More
Neurodiversity has increased my knowledge and understanding of the many overlaps between different diagnoses. Perhaps the hardest to distinguish are NVLD and autism. Their similarities should be appreciated, and people can identify with both. I also agree with efforts to dismantle a pernicious hierarchical structure that delineates between the supposed “higher functioning” labels, such as the now-defunct Asperger Syndrome, and autism. I can understand the concern that differentiating NVLD from autism could create a category of people who are “not quite autistic,” reinforcing the assumption that there is something “lower functioning” about autism. However, advocating for NVLD as a distinct diagnosis is not about creating an “autism light”; it is about recognizing a label and identity that truly resonate for many people who for too long have been invisible in the learning disability, mental health, and even neurodiversity nomenclature. It is about respect, being counted, and the autonomy to choose one’s identity. I welcome those with NVLD embracing autism if it feels right for them, but forcing it on us is an act of identity erasure. Read More
It’s no secret that I am a huge believer in inclusion in all parts of school life. Therefore I often notice mistakes that are made in all parts of the inclusion process during and after high school more than others. I understand each decision is made with good intentions as no one ever wants to see students fail, however, many students I believe could be having more in their inclusion experiences. Read More
The working world can be tricky when you have NVLD! Having now formally disclosed, in my working environment as a SEN teacher, it’s like a window has finally opened and the support around me has been immense! I’m so thankful that I have the most amazing support, with an NVLD coach, regular check-ins with my manager, proofreader, and voice-to-text technology. I hope all employees with NVLD can have access to all the job requirements they can get, in order for them to do their jobs with joy and as stress-free as possible. Read More
Hello, everyone. My name is Carolyn Sophia Skowron. I am 27 years old and was diagnosed with NVLD when I was 16 years old. When I was in school, I felt like I had to work ten times harder in the classroom than everyone else. I had countless tutors and worked as hard as possible, but my grades still didn’t show it. I constantly felt that I could never measure up. I lived this way for 16 years without an answer – just tutor after tutor, still not doing well. Finally, at the age of 16, I got an answer to my difficulties. In my sophomore year of high school, I took a test to find out why I was failing tests in the first place. It was a neuropsych evaluation. From that evaluation, I discovered that I have a Nonverbal learning disability. As I learned about the diagnosis, it made sense why I had always internalized every situation and every interaction I had. I would replay situations over and over in my head, convinced I had done something wrong. The anxiety I had that someone would not like me or that someone was talking behind my back if they gave me a certain look made me depressed. Spatial awareness was something I also was always struggling with. I was always scared to be me. Read More
Have you ever had challenges with writing because it’s hard to put your thoughts on paper? Or had issues with forming sentences in an essay? Or maybe you had problems with writing because you couldn’t make the sentences sound like the flow from one to the next in a concise way that made sense. Read More
Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) is often misunderstood because it doesn’t fit neatly into common learning disability categories. As someone with high-functioning NVLD, I have strong verbal skills, an excellent memory for facts, and the ability to articulate complex ideas. On the surface, I may seem highly capable. However, beneath this competence, I face persistent struggles with executive functioning—planning, organization, time management, and task completion. These difficulties affect nearly every aspect of my life, from academics and work to daily responsibilities and self-care. Read More
It is very clear, based on the interactions I have had with parents who have children with disabilities, that the majority of the parents are eternally grateful for inclusion to be the norm in schools and within the communities. I feel this is especially true for families like mine that have both children with and without disabilities. However, this doesn’t prevent the disappointments of their personal journey from happening, as the reality is that inclusion can only go so far for each individual. So, in this piece, I will discuss how inclusion experiences bring many challenges and rewards.
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As a child, I was always a little bit different from others; I did many games and activities alone, struggled to make social connections at times, was very resistant to change and new things, and experienced frequent anxiety around daily life. I tried my best to make new friends, as I felt it was important to do that due to being an only child, but often, people would use my kindness against me, and I ended up feeling left out. I had several wonderful friendship groups growing up, and I appreciated the friends who stayed, but as is normal in different phases of life, people drifted. The most significant time of which was in sixth form.
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