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
I have quite a lot in common with Gus Walz, the son of the former vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz.
Like Gus, I’m the second born in a white, middle-class, Midwestern family. I also come from a family of educators and passionate community organizers. I’m tall and have wavy hair, too.
I also have a non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD), just like Gus Walz. 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
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
