I believe I inherited my learning disability from my father, who was diagnosed with a processing disorder in his 20s. At around 3 years old, doctors told my mother that it was possible that I wouldn’t be able to write and do other things that require visual spatial skills, such as driving. The occupational therapist also discovered that I could not cross midline meaning I could move left arm to my right side across the center of my body which indicated a disruption in the connection between the right and left hemispheres in my brain. Read More
Growing up with undiagnosed NVLD and ADHD was deeply challenging. While a few teachers were supportive, most students did not recognize my struggles, and I often felt ostracized within school social structures—from elementary school through high school. Because my learning disabilities were not diagnosed until my sophomore year, many teachers approached me with preconceived notions, labeling my difficulties with listening, following directions, interpreting nonverbal cues, and fine motor tasks as me being “difficult” or a “challenge,” rather than recognizing that I needed additional support. Read More
After years of struggling in life, struggles finding work that I could do (adequately), struggles in housing and homelessness, not being able to learn how to drive-despite much effort and hard work I knew enough was enough. That my inability to do these things-which are pretty much required to live a decent life, have a career and be self-sufficient- was not my fault and I wasn’t lazy or unmotivated but must have an undiagnosed disability. Read More
As of September 2025, I will celebrate a milestone I never expected to have as a neurodivergent individual, especially one considered ‘twice exceptional’ such as myself.
I am celebrating 10 years of working with my organization.
A decade of continuous employment with the same people. In an era of job hopping and losses, of lockdowns and bankruptcies and shortages and tariffs, I’ve stayed and grown. I’ve been stable. I finished graduate school, was elected to multiple boards, and started a family. Read More
My son is 42. He was diagnosed with NLD at age 14, and since then, there has been… nothing.
No help. We hired a steady stream of well-meaning therapists and worked with school counselors, many of whom have, to this day, never even heard of NLD. Never heard of it. And you can bet your life they had no idea how to help him. And they still don’t. To this day, in 2025. Read More
You know those backroads out in the country your grandparents used to take?
Well, welcome to living with NVLD. Our lives consist of a daily commute on those backroads. We see things differently than most in terms of getting to the finish line; backroads are the route we take. My struggle is with anxiety, something a lot of people with NVLD suffer from. Backroads typically consist of a lot of turns and hills. My anxiety comes from not being able to see around and/or past those turns and hills. Read More
Hi everyone, and welcome back, the podcast where we explore life through the lens of authenticity, resilience, and self-compassion.
Today’s episode is called “Being Neurodivergent and Self-Partnering: What It Is and Why It Matters.”
If you’ve ever felt like you move through the world just a little differently—or maybe a lot differently—this episode is especially for you. And if you’ve ever struggled with invisible learning challenges or the weight of trying to “pass” as neurotypical, you are not alone. 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
I don’t care what anyone else says: the late 90’s were fun.
Celestial stuff was everywhere. We’re talking giant suns, weird moons, glow-in-the-dark stars on all of our ceilings. Mystical stuff was neat, Lilith Fair was the hot concert ticket to have, Sarah Mclachlan was on the radio and Loreena McKinnett had just released The Mummer’s Dance. Life for the offbeat was good…even if you got teased for it. Like I did. Read More
Middle school can be challenging, and having a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD), a condition that affects social skills, body language interpretation, and spatial awareness, added its own complexities. (Neither did being a foot taller than half the grade or having acne, but I digress.) When you are younger, some quirks might seem cute or charming, but often by middle school, they are no longer seen that way. I quickly realized that struggling to read body language or differentiate sarcasm was isolating. I found myself outside the cliques forming around me. Read More
