In my previous piece, I discussed the different types of transition and postgraduate programs for students with an NVLD and other disabilities. Now I will discuss the different college possibilities, as each college offers different levels of support and values inclusion differently. So hopefully the examples I share will help you understand the different options for students with an NVLD and other learning disabilities. Read More
The NVLD Project Blog
When people hear my nice accent in a foreign language, they naturally assume I am fluent. But my language-learning journey reveals a very different reality: smooth pronunciation often hides struggles. As long as I can remember, even back in middle school, I made more progress in class than in immersion. Read More
While preparing for life after high school is a big decision for all seniors, it is even harder for students with NVLD and other learning disabilities. Given that colleges do not provide equal amounts of support and not every college is equally inclusive, these students have a harder time choosing the place for themselves. In addition, not every student is ready to start a traditional college curriculum and would be a better candidate for a residential transition program. So in this piece, I will discuss how and where students with NVLD and similar disabilities experience great post-secondary success. Read More
1. Take advantage of disability accommodations: This is extremely helpful for extra time on tests, figuring out which classes may be easiest with fulfilling math or science distributions (learned the hard way to only take easy classes first semester after withdrawing from a psychology class because I was failing), and if your school allows it, getting a single as a first-year since an incompatible roommate can make your life hell. Read More
Exactly 1 year ago, I was diagnosed with NVLD at 26 years old. When the clinician called me to discuss the results and confirmed I had NVLD, I cried, since my teen years and college (especially the latter, where I especially struggled socially due to lack of structure and burnout) would’ve been less isolating and stressful with an appropriate diagnosis. Read More
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
My boyfriend introduced me to the sport 4 years ago, and at first I got into it without any expectations; at the beginning, progress came quickly, but soon enough, I felt completely overwhelmed, leaving the gym exhausted and frustrated.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever go beyond V3s as my baseline anymore because it’s like being tone deaf in music: I simply lack spatial intuition, and I am unable to form mental images in my head. I end up wasting way too much energy on a single movement while some make it look effortless. At V3s and below, the holds are generally good enough to figure out the movements directly on the wall, but above V3, the hesitation costs me way too much energy, and I freeze because I don’t have that instant spatial map. Getting stronger helped me hang onto worse holds longer, but I still felt something was off. 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
I first noticed that I was different in preschool when the other students had no problem working jigsaw problems, while I struggled with them. This surprised me because I was better than them at most activities. My Kindergarten report card noted that I still couldn’t tie my shoelaces. On the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, my answer for all of the rotated figure problems was “none of the above”. I always get lost easily. If I am by myself in an unknown area, I am helpless. 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
