Learning Differently
People who learn differently can still lead successful lives, both socially and in the workplace. This Career Stories Library will be constantly gathering real-life stories of men and women who have working-career satisfaction.
DEFINITIONS – OLD AND NEW
‘Learning Disability’ has often been defined as: “A condition giving rise to difficulties in acquiring knowledge and skills to the level expected of those of the same age, especially when not associated with a physical handicap.”
But recently there is a better, more accurate way to describe a significant number of students:
‘Learning Differently’ is a more accurate description of the process to gain knowledge of school course work and social interaction, all of which is absolutely possible!
Another related concept is ‘Parallel Learning.’
HOW IS A LEARNING DIFFERENCE DIAGNOSED? This is traditionally done by conducting two tests (IQ and standardized achievement in reading, writing and arithmetic) and then noticing a significant difference between those two scores.
‘LEARNING DISABILITIES’ ARE NOT RELATED TO INTELLIGENCE
‘Learning disabilities’ are differences in a person’s brain that can affect how well they read, write, speak, do math, and handle simple tasks.
Professional organizations may define ‘learning disabilities’ differently, often depending on the focus of the organization.
All experts in medicine, psychology, and science agree that a learning ‘disability’ doesn’t affect or equate to basic intelligence.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU ARE “LEARNING DISABLED”?
1. Major things to know:
A. Respond by saying: “I’m not disabled; I just learn differently.”
B. You are not alone!
(2022 statistics to support that you are not alone: over 4 million children in the US have at least one learning disability; 1 in 6 children in the US have learning and thinking differences like dyslexia and ADHD; the percentage of children aged 3-17 years diagnosed with a developmental disability increased from 16.2% in 2009-2011 to 17.8% in 2015-2017; experts conclude the increase was due to improved and more available testing; i.e. there was no significant increase.)
C. You can still be a successful student and adult!
D. What you can do is most important!
2. Many ways to assist learning differently:
A. Psychologists can analyze your specific situation and recommend methods and possibly, equipment to learn how to proceed in the social world and workplace.
B. Schools can provide special ways of teaching; (approximately 70% of students with specific learning disabilities, visual impairments, other health impairments and development delays spend most of the school day in general classes.)
C. Some colleges provide programs designed to assist people with ‘learning disabilities; (such schools are easily found on the internet or with assistance from a school counselor)
D. The individual with the need to learn differently should know how to advocate for himself or herself – in other words, know who to tell that you may need more time to complete a task – ranging from assignments to tests.
E. Technology to assist learning and communicating differently is advancing daily. For example, there are now computer software programs to read text aloud and to read text and speak for you.
CAREER EXAMPLES WHEN LEARNING DIFFERENTLY
Creating a career path for every person (no matter how they learn) involves many variables, including family support, levels of ability to communicate in writing or speaking, interest in types of work to earn money and motivation to learn and perform your best every day.
Is it best to accept another person’s advice that you are limited in the types of jobs you can do or is it best for you to take some of those “so-called limits” as a challenge? That is for you to decide! Just know that there are many examples of students receiving firm (but inaccurate) advice that they could not succeed in pursuing a certain path and yet persisting to succeed! (For example, see the following career stories within this collection: ANIMAL CARE – Veterinarian and MEDICINE – Ob / gyn and REAL ESTATE – Business Owner (Broker).
There are several career stories which demonstrate that an early diagnosis of a “learning disability” was accepted as a challenge to learn differently and succeed. For example, see career stories: HOSPITALITY – Executive Chef and MEDICINE – Pediatric Psychiatrist.
MORE STORIES WILL BE SHARED – DO YOU HAVE A STORY?
Additional, real-life stories of men and women who learn differently and are successful in their working careers, will be added as they are made available to the Editor of this project. If the reader knows of someone who has learned differently, found a successful employment niche and whose (anonymous) story could be told (within this website) to benefit many others, please contact the Editor of these career stories, by completing the form within the separate website main section: ABOUT THE CAREER STORIES LIBRARY (“read more” section (11).
