What it was like growing up with a learning disability! | Katie Gets personal!
What It Was Like Growing Up With A Learning Disability!
Hello everyone! Today's blog post is all about me opening up. When I started this blog my goal was to create a place where yes I could talk about my loves, but also a place where I could open up. I want to get personal and talk about my life. So yes you read that right. I grew up with a learning disability. I mean yes technically at this stage in my life I still have one, but I feel I have persevered so much to the point where I don't really have a disability.
The only way to tell the story is to start from the beginning. When I was only about a year old my mom first noticed I wasn't walking or talking on time. She brought it up to our family doctor, but he assured my mom that different kids develop at different times and that I would reach those milestones soon. When I was in pre-school my teachers wanted my mom to have me tested. My mom was concerned and felt like she did something wrong parenting. I am my parent's first child, so they thought they did something wrong. I'm not a parent, but I know for sure if I was I would be right with my mom on that feeling.
I got testing done and we found out I had a learning disability (LD). That might seem so general to many of you that aren't aware of disabilities. I will clue you in. A learning disability is a neurological disorder. It doesn't mean if you have an LD that your dumb compared to your peers. It more means that children with LD's may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling, and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways. So from pre-school, I got the help I needed. I received services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, and I believe I got physical therapy for just my first few years of school. So unlike the average student, I would have those different services scheduled into my week. I also would spend some of my class time separate from a large classroom. For example reading, writing would be in a small class with maybe 5-10 students that were run by a special education teacher. I received services all through my high school career, but the services lessened as I got older. As I got older I persevered a bit and was able to eliminate some of those services. My needs changed of course as I got older, and class time became more of a priority than it might have been in elementary and middle school.
Anyways that was enough of a background. If you guys would like more of a detailed story of my experience let me know and I can make a video about it in the future.
Finally what you came here for. You might still be wondering... Katie, what was it like growing up with a learning disability?
I noticed in the younger grades I didn't think of it much. I loved going to school and to me it wasn't any different. I knew maybe my experience was different, but it didn't phase me as much. When I got to middle school and I was going to school with friends from my neighborhood I felt like it impacted me a bit more.
When I went to the same school as my friends which might I add was a first for me because prior I went to a different school as them because my school was better equipped for helping me with my learning struggles. Since this was the first time, I was excited. When we were in school though, I was ashamed of my disability, and I would try to hide it. I wasn't open about it. I was afraid of being judged I guess. I guess it was also something I chose to hide because a lot of my friends were really smart like talented and gifted smart.
I remember this one experience where I was in my special ed classroom, and one of my friends in another class missed a test. The class was going over it so she had to sit in our class while they went over it. I remember I didn't make eye contact with her. I didn't want her to know that this was me. I was very quiet that day. The funny thing now remembering this is that now I wouldn't care who knew. I'm more accepting of who I am. I also don't care what anybody thinks. I am me and I love me. Also, a funny thing is that I'm pretty sure my friends knew I needed extra help in school, but it was always the elephant in the room. I don't think they cared one bit, but for me, I couldn't reveal that. I guess this was my way of trying to fit in which I feel like every child, disability or not does at least once in their life. I feel like this need to hide my disability came from the fear of being bullied or made fun of for something that I for sure didn't choose for myself.
I feel like this was never something that I was 100% honest about. I did enjoy school, but also for me I had to work harder than most kids in order to do well. Math was always a difficulty for me, but that was one of several things I had to work through. Even to this day. I get my extra help and get a tutor when it comes to math. Also for me asking for help was not easy, and often I didn't do it.
I feel like all I'm saying is a jumble of alphabet soup words. There was so much in my school life that went on. I just want to say my experience was good, and I worked my ass off to get where I am. I succeed and fail even to this day, but that's the process. I most importantly don't think I would be where I am today without my parents first of all because they supported me every single day through everything. I also wouldn't be where I am without my teachers who helped me through my academic struggles and believed in me.
If your reading this, and you're going through something similar, just know that you got this! There is light at the end of the tunnel so don't ever give up. YOU CAN DO IT! You are brilliant! Your gonna do amazing things! Most importantly be your 100% authentic self, and don't worry what people will say. People will support you for you, and if they don't then they don't deserve you. DO YOU BOO!
XOXO -Katie
P.s ♡ be sure to comment your experiences. Also If you come across this and have any questions feel free to shoot them at me in a comment down below. Be sure to follow me all across the board all my socials are at the bottom of my page.
Talk to you guys soon, have a great day!
The only way to tell the story is to start from the beginning. When I was only about a year old my mom first noticed I wasn't walking or talking on time. She brought it up to our family doctor, but he assured my mom that different kids develop at different times and that I would reach those milestones soon. When I was in pre-school my teachers wanted my mom to have me tested. My mom was concerned and felt like she did something wrong parenting. I am my parent's first child, so they thought they did something wrong. I'm not a parent, but I know for sure if I was I would be right with my mom on that feeling.
I got testing done and we found out I had a learning disability (LD). That might seem so general to many of you that aren't aware of disabilities. I will clue you in. A learning disability is a neurological disorder. It doesn't mean if you have an LD that your dumb compared to your peers. It more means that children with LD's may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling, and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways. So from pre-school, I got the help I needed. I received services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, and I believe I got physical therapy for just my first few years of school. So unlike the average student, I would have those different services scheduled into my week. I also would spend some of my class time separate from a large classroom. For example reading, writing would be in a small class with maybe 5-10 students that were run by a special education teacher. I received services all through my high school career, but the services lessened as I got older. As I got older I persevered a bit and was able to eliminate some of those services. My needs changed of course as I got older, and class time became more of a priority than it might have been in elementary and middle school.
Anyways that was enough of a background. If you guys would like more of a detailed story of my experience let me know and I can make a video about it in the future.
Finally what you came here for. You might still be wondering... Katie, what was it like growing up with a learning disability?
I noticed in the younger grades I didn't think of it much. I loved going to school and to me it wasn't any different. I knew maybe my experience was different, but it didn't phase me as much. When I got to middle school and I was going to school with friends from my neighborhood I felt like it impacted me a bit more.
When I went to the same school as my friends which might I add was a first for me because prior I went to a different school as them because my school was better equipped for helping me with my learning struggles. Since this was the first time, I was excited. When we were in school though, I was ashamed of my disability, and I would try to hide it. I wasn't open about it. I was afraid of being judged I guess. I guess it was also something I chose to hide because a lot of my friends were really smart like talented and gifted smart.
I remember this one experience where I was in my special ed classroom, and one of my friends in another class missed a test. The class was going over it so she had to sit in our class while they went over it. I remember I didn't make eye contact with her. I didn't want her to know that this was me. I was very quiet that day. The funny thing now remembering this is that now I wouldn't care who knew. I'm more accepting of who I am. I also don't care what anybody thinks. I am me and I love me. Also, a funny thing is that I'm pretty sure my friends knew I needed extra help in school, but it was always the elephant in the room. I don't think they cared one bit, but for me, I couldn't reveal that. I guess this was my way of trying to fit in which I feel like every child, disability or not does at least once in their life. I feel like this need to hide my disability came from the fear of being bullied or made fun of for something that I for sure didn't choose for myself.
I feel like this was never something that I was 100% honest about. I did enjoy school, but also for me I had to work harder than most kids in order to do well. Math was always a difficulty for me, but that was one of several things I had to work through. Even to this day. I get my extra help and get a tutor when it comes to math. Also for me asking for help was not easy, and often I didn't do it.
I feel like all I'm saying is a jumble of alphabet soup words. There was so much in my school life that went on. I just want to say my experience was good, and I worked my ass off to get where I am. I succeed and fail even to this day, but that's the process. I most importantly don't think I would be where I am today without my parents first of all because they supported me every single day through everything. I also wouldn't be where I am without my teachers who helped me through my academic struggles and believed in me.
If your reading this, and you're going through something similar, just know that you got this! There is light at the end of the tunnel so don't ever give up. YOU CAN DO IT! You are brilliant! Your gonna do amazing things! Most importantly be your 100% authentic self, and don't worry what people will say. People will support you for you, and if they don't then they don't deserve you. DO YOU BOO!
XOXO -Katie
P.s ♡ be sure to comment your experiences. Also If you come across this and have any questions feel free to shoot them at me in a comment down below. Be sure to follow me all across the board all my socials are at the bottom of my page.
Talk to you guys soon, have a great day!
