Before reading on, answer me this: Do you have a toaster oven? If so, where is it? And, did you have to go search for it? One day, I was reading a cookbook and I decided to make a toasted sandwich. The book said to cook it in a toaster oven. Hmmm. Do we have […]
The Mountain of Sensory Overload and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
May 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Introduction In this article, I introduced the idea of nonverbal learning disabilities (or any disability) as a mountain between where you are and where you want to go. In the current article, I will discuss the mountain of sensory overload problems, and ways of coping. Nonverbal learning disabilities and sensory overload Many NLDers have problems […]
The Mountain of Socialization and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Part 1
May 6, 2012 by 1 Comment
Introduction to the NLD Mountain In this article, I introduced the analogy of nonverbal learning disability (or any disability) as a mountain between where you are, and where you want to go. In the next series of articles, I will address five specific problems that many NLDers have, and how they create mountains: Socialization Sensory […]
Some thoughts on disorder and stigma
February 15, 2012 by 6 Comments
Disability? Disorder? Difference? Yes, disorder (or disability) implies something is wrong. And, at least for me, something IS wrong. To deny it (as people did a LOT during my childhood, and still do somewhat today) is kind of insulting in a weird way, because it says that the things I have a lot of difficulty […]
Anxiety? Yeah!
January 25, 2012 by 1 Comment
So, a lot of people with LD or autism or Asperger’s or whatnot are anxious. Some are so anxious it’s a disorder. Maybe we’re born with it. Maybe it’s given to us. Because, for many people with LD or autism or Asperger’s or whatnot, the world keeps tossing us the unexpected. Praise for what’s easy. […]
Defiance and opposition
January 21, 2012 by 11 Comments
There is a disorder called oppositional and defiant disorder. The American Academy of Child and Oppositional Psychiatry says this about it In children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), there is an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster’s day to day functioning. Symptoms of ODD […]
Processing speed – fast and slow
January 20, 2012 by 3 Comments
On the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale v. 4 (WAIS-IV) there’s an index called “processing speed”. It’s composed of two subtests: Coding and symbol search. I never took the WAIS-IV, but I’ve taken earlier versions. These are two of my worst subtests (the others where I am really bad are block design, matrix reasoning and visual […]
A safe place for children with LD
January 17, 2012 by 5 Comments
It is vitally important that all people have a safe place. This is especially so for learning disabled (LD) people, who may experience the world as much less safe than most neurotypical (NT) people do. A safe place is one where the person is safe not just from physical harm, but from emotional harm as […]
I am not Temple Grandin (and I am not autistic)
December 14, 2011 by 8 Comments
Temple Grandin is famous; perhaps the most famous autistic person in the world. She’s written books, she’s got a great career, she has a PhD …. it’s amazing. But she’s autistic. I’m not. In this post, I detail some difference between me (and some others with NLD) and Temple Grandin (and some other people with […]
Doodling, arguing and paying attention
November 26, 2011 by 3 Comments
When I look at someone’s face, I often get overwhelmed by the information flow. I have found at least two: Doodling and arguing. These work especially well for me when in a meeting or at a lecture. What do I mean by doodling and arguing?
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