Parents often express worry regarding their child’s social, academic, and professional future. They tell me, “My child has no friends, they struggle in math, getting lost, tying their shoes, etc.” Of course, these are legitimate concerns regarding many children with NVLD, and there are steps that you can take to help your child develop everyday living, social, and academic skills. Read More
The NVLD Project Blog
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
Growing up with an NVLD in a rural area brought many positives, such as being blessed with incredible support. Yet it had its difficulties too. So in this piece, I will discuss both the positives and negatives of living in a small and lower-income community. 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
To today’s youth with an NVLD- If you’re having times when you feel that no one believes in you I empathize with you completely. I had those periods too. Fortunately, though I realized this wasn’t true. So in this piece, I will informally explain how there are adults in your life who believe in you and will support you. Read More
My name is Jacob Babbin. I am 34. And I have Non-Verbal Learning Difference. This is my third time writing a blog for this website. I focus on what it is like traveling with Non-Verbal Learning Difference (NVLD).
In May of 2025, I selected to go to Washington D.C. I was unable to head back to Israel due to the ongoing war. It was amazing I got to go in 2022 & again in 2024. I completed my conversion to Judaism and the Reform movement in November of 2024. Read More