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
I was diagnosed with NVLD at 26, just months after earning my Master’s degree. Although the diagnosis wasn’t surprising, it was bittersweet. For years, I blamed myself for struggling with math, visual-spatial tasks, executive functioning, and social communication despite working twice as hard as everyone else just to feel drained. Read More
People judge what they can see.
They see whether I have a job.
Whether I smile.
Whether I make eye contact.
Whether I appear calm.
Whether I “fit in.” Read More
Existing in an ableist world as a teenager with NVLD can be exhausting. Growing up, I often felt like an outsider looking in and struggled to find a sense of belonging. I didn’t quite fit into certain friend circles. I tended to heavily mask to survive the unwritten social code that existed within high school. I often felt like a fish out of water. I knew I was different, yet I didn’t quite understand why. Read More
Alright, good morning everybody. Happy Friday, or maybe it’s Saturday, depending on when you’re listening to this. I know it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve done an episode.
I was juggling a lot of things and couldn’t find time to do one, so I decided to do one today. You know what, instead of me just promoting Etsy verbally, I’m gonna go grab a couple of items from the shop so you guys can actually see them. I’ll be right back. So this is an example of one of them.
These are the little toys I’ve been knitting lately. This is another one,e and then this is another one. I know they don’t look perfect, but I don’t think anything really does look perfect in the end, and from me, knitting is a little challenging because of my NVLD and my other learning differences, so I just do the best I can whenever I knit something. Read More
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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Living with NVLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder) has shaped many of my social experiences, especially when it comes to relationships, rejection, and trying to connect with others. One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn is that not everyone will understand me, accept me, or want to be close to me. For a long time, I took rejection very personally, especially from family members and in friendships. I often believed that if people disliked me or pulled away, it meant there was something wrong with me. Over time, I have started learning that rejection is painful, but it does not define my worth as a person. Read More
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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This article was originally posted by Benjamin Meyer, LCSW-R on https://www.benjaminmeyerlcsw.
We know that it can be difficult to date as a neurodivergent person. When I first created a dating curriculum, I wanted to offer a guide for understanding the stages of dating, how to recognize and practice flirting, and how to develop self-confidence. While this group was a helpful start, I began to realize that there is more that could be offered by creating a space for neurodivergent people, including those with NVLD, to support one another in the dating process. Many neurodivergent people are told to date using neurotypical norms but may not have the opportunity to discover what will work for them. I wanted to run a group for people who weren’t necessarily looking to be told how to date but rather wanted to provide reinforcement to one another on their own dating journey. 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
