One of my biggest frustrations has always been how IEP teams don’t encourage students with an NVLD and similar disabilities, such as Autism and Dyspraxia, to join school or community sports teams. Sports can bring many challenges for individuals who have gross motor skills; however, I truly believe that the incredible benefits that can be gained far outweigh any negatives. Being part of a team leads to having incredible mentors and building strong friendships, given how you spend so much time working together during your athletic seasons. So in this piece I will discuss the remarkable positives of being part of a sports team and the how difficulties help you grow. Read More
In elementary school, chocolate milk was the ultimate reward. Whenever we did well on a test, the teacher would hand out those little packets of powder to mix into a small milk carton. My friends would rush, stirring their spoons with excitement, drinking this magic drink. I would just sit there, puzzled, staring at the milk. I would taste it, and it was awful—gritty, strange, earthy with clumps of undissolved powder floating at the top. I couldn’t understand what was going on. Why was everyone smiling? Read More
In my previous piece discuss the importance of having similar expectations and goals for all of your children. Now I will continue sharing the importance of this. In addition I will discuss how things won’t be exactly the same unfortunately but the end results will be very similar such as achieving your true potential and being able to have personal connections. Yes, it may seem hard but I highly believe it will help reduce tension within your family life.
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Growing up with an older sister who excelled in everything and held multiple leadership roles such as being a class officer made me inspired to overcome as much as I could as I wanted to be able to have some of the same experiences she did. This was largely influenced by our parents placing a strong value on us to always do our best and to be connected within our school and community, yet we’re fully aware that our overall results would be different. So in this piece I will discuss the importance of having similar expectations and goals for all of your children. While it may seem hard it will help reduce tension within your family life.
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One of the things that you continue to read about is how students with an NVLD and other learning disabilities are at great risk of having very low self-esteem. This is especially the case if they have more than just academic deficits. In my personal opinion, social media has made it worse, and at times, it’s the adults’ fault, which I know they don’t mean to cause hurt. So in this piece, I will list some of the examples to help make it more positive for everyone.
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Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) is often described as a difficulty in ‘seeing the big picture.’ In my daily life, this trait manifests itself in very concrete ways—both on my plate and in my headphones. Read More
Throughout my life, I have struggled to make friends. I can remember, as early as three years old, approaching adults rather than kids my own age out of fear of rejection. This worry has permeated my entire life.
I yearned for companionship, often feeling alone and isolated. In my mid-twenties, I attended a few events, but no friendships came from them. A couple of months after I turned 33, I made a decision: I wasn’t going to be lonely anymore.
In my previous piece, I discussed my personal frustrations with what many believed students with an NVLD and similar disabilities aren’t able to do. This is truly so disappointing to me. I know, personally, these beliefs aren’t entirely true, as most things they can do are achieved by taking advantage of all the resources available to them and through their own determination and hard work. So now I will continue explaining the different examples and how to do them successfully. Setting limitations for these students is truly a mistake. Read More
My name is Leila, and I was diagnosed with NVLD when I was in fifth grade. Having NVLD has made it really hard for me to do a lot of things. I’ve struggled with math since I was a child, and I still can’t ride a bike like all my other friends. I cannot tell the difference between sarcasm and literal things, and it’s super frustrating to me when my friends don’t understand, or when I misinterpret what they say. It sometimes makes me feel too sensitive or disconnected from others. Read More
I have always felt like Alice in Wonderland. Living with a Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD) often feels like walking through a world that was never designed with me in mind. Society operates on rigid, ableist expectations, and rules that assume everyone processes information, time, and social cues in the same way. Read More
