Project Social Ambassador

Anna

Location: New Hampshire

Age: 38

College: Keene State College

Profession: Insurance customer service

Biography: I live in New Hampshire with my husband and our calico cat, Mia. I was diagnosed with specific learning disabilities when I was in kindergarten, and didn’t receive the NVLD diagnosis until I was 28. I had wanted to have a name for my diagnosis my whole life and it felt great to finally have the NVLD name. Since 4th grade I have wanted to write about life with a learning disorder to help other and be an advocate for people with learning disorders and similar conditions. I majored in journalism and I’ve done supported employment in community mental health and even saw some clients in my own career coaching practice that I ran for a couple years specializing in career coaching clients like myself with dyslexia, ADD, NVLD and ASD.

What has influenced you the most in life and why? John Lennon. I was first introduced to the early years of the Beatles when I was 10 and I seemed to grow up with the progression of their albums. He was not afraid be himself and be different, and he was always striving to learn and be better. He was diagnosed with dyslexia in the 1970s, so he is also a different thinker. I learned a lot about not being afraid to be myself and speak my mind because of his songs and interviews.