In the post holiday period I got to thinking about surprises. I think there are two sorts of surprises. One is the “expected surprise” which is not the oxymoron it sounds like. The other is the unexpected surprise.
Getting kids to accept accommodations
October 23, 2013 by 3 Comments
In my history, accommodations were never an issue. I wasn’t offered any. But these days things are different. Many children get accommodations. But some refuse to take what is offered. They don’t want to appear different. Or they view it as cheating. I’ve got some thoughts on getting kids to accept accommodations.
Thoughts on Peter Riffle’s keynote address at the New Jersey LDA meeting
October 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In this post I gave my general impressions of the recent meeting of the New Jersey LDA. Now, I’d like to write a little about Peter Riffle, especially his keynote address. Peter Riffle is a teacher of learning disabled kids. He also is learning disabled himself (he has dyslexia). And he’s a great speaker.
Disabilities and inconveniences
September 27, 2013 by 1 Comment
Disabilities can certainly be inconvenient. In fact, you might even say that if something isn’t inconvenient it isn’t a disability. But disabilities aren’t just inconvenient and many inconveniences aren’t disabilities. What are the similarities and differences?
The benefits of labels for LD people
September 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
“I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I think I’m broken” – Quote from a 12 year old child with learning disabilities. Labels have a bad reputation among many in the special needs community. Certainly, labels can be misused. But, if you think your child might be learning disabled, then, believe me: Your child […]
Measuring progress: Snails and eagles both move
August 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Sometimes a learning disabled person seems not to be making any progress in some particular area – usually, this is the area that is difficult for that person. The LD person could appear this way internally or externally; that is, others may look at the LD person and not see progress, or the LD person […]
5 mistakes people make when interacting with NLDers
August 11, 2013 by 3 Comments
When a person with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD or NVLD) interacts with an NT (neurotypical person) things can go wrong. No list can prevent all the ways it can go wrong, but here are some mistakes NT people make when interacting with us:
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it: Letting LD people do what they can do
April 15, 2013 by 3 Comments
People with learning disabilities often have problems with certain tasks. For people with NLD, those tasks tend to be in nonverbal communication. But sometimes LD people (including NLD people) do things, but do them in a different way from most people. Many people with NVLD have trouble with math. I don’t have much trouble with […]
Spatial relationships and travel for NLD people
March 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I love living in New York City for many reasons. One that is directly related to my NVLD is that (at least where I live in Manhattan) the streets are (almost) a perfect grid (Broadway wrecks the perfection) and the east-west streets are numbered. After 86 comes 87! When I travel, my NVLD messes me […]
5 ways normal is boring
February 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Although I have given a mathematical proof that no one is normal, it is nevertheless the case that people use the word. And, as I note in that article, it is possible to be normal on one or two dimensions. So, compared to NVLD people like me, i guess some people are normal, in some […]
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