#learning disability

[zebulontheplanet]

Hearing constantly about gifted autistic kids and people seeing it as THEE autistic trait has completely disregarded those who aren’t gifted and made a HUGE divide in the community. Seeing constantly “yeah autistic people are usually gifted” is so annoying because a VERY large chunk of autistic people, aren’t actually gifted and media has just put the gifted people at the front because they’re more palatable. The “autistic gifted kid burnout” has become more so a trend than anything and I’ve seen a lot of people assume they’re autistic because they are the “gifted kid burnout person” when that isn’t even a requirement for an autism diagnosis. You don’t have to be gifted to be autistic. You don’t have to be!!

Start putting the people who struggle more in the spotlight. Those with intellectual disabilities, those with learning disabilities, those with cognitive disabilities, those who are just generally stereotypically “dumb” and embrace it!

We need to have a very big discussion about this as a community and it needs to start today.

#zebrambles #autism #actually autism #actually autistic #learning disability #learning disabilities #intellectual disability #cognitive disability #gifted kid burnout #gifted kid #autistic #autistic things #Zebplanet

[thedisablednaturalist]

I know there's a literacy crisis or whatever but that doesn't give you the right to go after people with intellectual disabilities and people with brain fog and learning disabilities. Sometimes we need help understanding something, we might ask "dumb/obvious" questions. It doesn't mean we aren't trying to pay attention or use critical thinking. Responding to someone's question on the internet with snobby wisecracks about how the person should learn to read or go back to 1st grade is rude at best and ableist at worst. Just ignore the question if you don't want to answer. Don't flatter yourself saying how progressive you are if you turn around and make fun of your friend for asking a question after a movie.

My partner let's me pause and ask questions during shows and movies bc he loves me and wants me to enjoy what we're watching too instead of sitting there confused cause my brain couldn't catch up. Or I lost attention for a few seconds and missed something important.

#chronic disability #fibromyalgia #spoonie #disability #neurodivergence #intellectual disability #brain fog #learning disability #adhd

[fuckedupfemmebot]

Where are all the "slow" kids, the challenged kids, the burnouts from birth, the burden to have in class? Where are the autists who can't mask, who self harm, who are loud and can't stop stimming? The NDs with processing disorders, brain damage, brain fog? The ones with down syndrome, FAS, and other conditions that people treat like curses or defects. I hardly ever see them past 18 and I know they don't just dissolve once they become adults.

#FAS #down syndrome #dislexia #dyslexia #learning disability #processing disorder #brain fog #intellectual disability #nonverbal #actually austistic

[enbycrip]

One common experience of disability all across the board - relating to everything from learning/intellectual disability to neurodiversity to physical impairment to chronic illness - is the way that “one little thing” can make everything - work performance, school performance, ability to communicate etc - go right off the rails and collapse.

This is an issue I frequently see abled doctors, therapists, psychologists, teachers, social workers etc speaking about in terms of “poor flexibility”, “need to teach resilience” etc etc, focusing on this as an issue *with the disabled person.*

And that illustrates absolutely *perfectly* why a) disabled people are the experts in disability, not abled “specialists”, and b) why the social model of disability *needs* to be taught and centred.

The issue in such circumstances is not some sort of “innate preference for rigidity” (you may laugh, but that’s a phrase I sadly *still* see used about autistic folks far too often) or even “innate widespread lack of capacity” in the disabled person. It is a symptom of a system - in this case, a disabled person’s *life* - that is under immense strain and operating without spare capacity available to be used to respond to unforeseen circumstances.

Disabled people are, almost universally, *master* adapters. Incredibly adept at adaptive thought; incredibly resilient and incredibly dogged. We are that way because we *need to be* to survive in a world that is incredibly ill-adapted for our needs. The reason we are *perceived* as “inflexible”, “rigid”, “fragile”, “incapable” etc etc is because we are, very very frequently, *already* operating at the limits of our capacity just to survive in a world that is incredibly hostile to our needs and to our existence.

The medical model of disability judges all people to exist in the same world under the same circumstances, and thus judges the disabled person to be “lacking” when we struggle. Thus the onus is put on *us* to “correct” this “lack”. “You need to build resilience”.

It is the exact same mindset that blames people living in poverty for their lack of available resources, and suggests “budgeting classes” or “stopping spending money on avocado toast and Netflix” instead of recognising the need to raise wages to liveable levels in low-paid work and provide genuinely affordable housing. Focusing on, and *blaming*, the individual rather than recognising the systemic injustice and the desperate need for systemic change.

“Resilience” as long-term quality more or less means “having the resources to put into dealing with unexpected difficulty while still maintaining other functions.” Whether those resources are time, energy, money, family or community support - if a person does not have access to enough of them, the system - in this case, their life - *will* become overstretched, and they *will* fail on one, or, very often, on multiple points.

That does not represent a personal or moral failure. It represents having access to insufficient resources to meet needs. It is genuinely that simple. And that is what needs to be addressed for disabled people to live and thrive.

#disabled #disability #disableism #ableism #chronic illness #chronic pain #chronic fatigue #autistic adult #adult adhd #learning disability #physically disabled #systemic disableism #intersectional disability

[i-may-be-an-emu]

Shout out to people who can not tell the time

Shout out to people who need a little longer to figure out the time

Shout out to people who can't do "quick" maths in their head

Shout out to people who need to use a calculator for even "simple" maths

Shout out to people who need others to read number a for them

Shout out to people who cry over maths and numbers

Shout out to people who say the wrong numbers when reading or talking about prices and the time of day

Shout out to people who can't read charts and graphs

Shout out to people who get confused with mathematical concepts

Shout out to people who can't read music because it seems mathematical to them

Shout out to people who's maths struggles limit them

Shout out to people with dyscalculia or math struggles, basically. I am with you. I am here for you. I see you. It sucks, and most of the world doesn't even know about dyscalculia. But it'll be ok. It won't go away but people will help you, you can adapt. I love you. Screw math ❤

#dyscalculia #discalculia #it's not just “math dyslexia” by the way #It's so much more than “just maths dyslexia” #not saying people with dyslexia have it better off at all just saying it's a different disorder and we have no awareness or visibility #neurodivergent #neurodivergence #neurodiversity #I hate maths #learning disability #learning disorder

[undercovercannibal]

"Dyslexic kids are creative, 'outside-the-box' thinkers. They have to be, because they don't see or solve problems the same way other kids do ... It's not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it's the mark of being very, very talented." - Rick Riordan

#percy jackson #percy jackson and the olympians #percy jackson and the lightning thief #pjo #pjedit #percy jackson tv show #percy jackson tv series #pjo tv show #pjo tv series #rick riordan #dyslexia #learning disability #neurodivergent #pjotvsource #useraurore #userstream #userbbelcher #chewieblog #dailyflicks #cinemapix #tvandfilm #tvandmovies #useroptional #*mine

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

once again fyi—

“intellectual disability” is one thing (UK: learning disabilities)

it is overall(!!) intellectual functioning difficulty (usually measure by overall IQ below 70, yes ew IQ etc etc i know), plus adaptive functioning difficulty, plus start before 18.

it not “intellectual disabilities” not “an intellectual disability” (there only one)

dyslexia dysgraphia dyscalculia are not “an intellectual disability”

they specific learning disabilities, or UK: learning difficulties (edit: originally misspoke & said learning differences, that wrong!)

get word right, use right tags 👍

#intellectual disability #learning disability #dyslexia #dyscalculia #dysgraphia #loaf screm #btw this target at people without ID

[chronicallyuniconic]

"6 out of 10 people who died from Covid between March and July 2020 were disabled"

As part of the UK covid inquiry, evidence has now been brought to light which shows that "Do Not Attempt Resuscitation" notices, were put on the files of patients with Down's Syndrome, Autism & other learning disabilities.

These people were healthy, before contracting Covid19.

The NHS watchdog we know as NICE, (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), issued guidance for trusts and hospitals advising them to apply a “clinical frailty scale” to decide whether patients should be admitted to intensive care.

Older and more frail patients were viewed as being less likely to survive even with critical care treatment.

The original NICE guidance also suggested that those who could not do everyday tasks like cooking, managing money and personal care independently, would be considered frail & not receive intensive care treatment.

This original guidance has since been removed....

Which leads us to the Do not attempt Resuscitation notices...

The DNAR notices were often placed on the files of the patients without their consent, or with limited understanding of its meaning.

Patients with learning disabilities were classed as 'clinically frail'

NHS England have of course denied this, yet the evidence shows they let them die, as to not overwhelm the NHS in the early days of a pandemic.

Yet many specialist nurses have come forward to say that they were constantly put in place for people with learning disabilities and often "inappropriately."

_____

I feel utterly sick. I remember at the start of the pandemic, talking about how disabled people will become a target, that we will be killed off, and people looked at me like I was purple.

4 years later we're here. In case you need to read it again, 6 in 10 people with covid that died during March to June 2020, were disabled. 6 in 10. I can't stop repeating that number.

Read more here:

https://archive.ph/4BQ3s

#covid 19 #covid pandemic #long covid #disability #covid inquiry #chronic illness #chronic life #chronically ill #spoonie problems #Disabled not disposable #learning disability #vulnerable #down syndrome #nhs #nhs england #aneurin bevan #Would be spinning in his grave

[just-your-local-cryptid]

Some times I forget that I’m disabled and then my disability decides to hit me like a truck and I go oh yeah most people don’t experience this.

#autisum #chronic pain #dyslexia #dyspraxia #learning disability #disability #invisible disability

[zebulontheplanet]

I’m not smart. I never have been. I’ve never been the gifted kid type of person, I’ve never been the kid who was able to keep up with their peers.

I couldn’t read chapter books until 8th grade. I still can’t do pre-algebra. I struggle with remembering dates, and important historical events. I don’t know the presidents and important figures in history.

I’m not smart. This is the reality for me as someone with an intellectual disability and multiple learning disabilities. It isn’t bad that I’m not smart.

I’m not “smart in other ways” I’m not that. I’m just not smart, and I’m ok with that. I’m ok with being not smart. Or dumb. Or stupid. Or whatever you wanna call me. I’m ok with not knowing things. I’m ok with being behind my peers. I’m ok with it.

Stop trying to lump me into this group of people who are “smart in other ways” cause thats not ok for me. Some people just aren’t smart, and that’s ok.

#borderline intellectual disability #intellectual disability #learning disability #autism

[thedisablednaturalist]

Can we not use subhuman to describe people we don't like k thanks

#wrenfea.exe #disability #cpunk #chronic disability #chronic pain #cripplepunk #spoonie #chronic illness #learning disability #intellectual disability #same with calling someone a degenerate

[robertseanleonardthinker]

i see actually neurodivergent trending so i just wanna say shoutout to my fellow learning disability ppl bc disorders other than adhd and autism r often left out when talking abt neurodivergency on the internet. we r all so awesome and cool and hot and smart regardless of our learning disabilities and i am kissing u all on the forehead so gently

#i don't talk abt it much here (bc this is a dumbass house md shitpost blog) but i have dyscalculia #I HATE NUMBERS!!!!!!!!! #anyways #ppl with learning disabilities i love yoi #actually neurodivergent #learning disability #learning disabilities #learning disorder #learning disorders #sld #slds #specific learning disorders #dyslexia #dyscalculia #dysgraphia #non verbal learning disability #nvld #and all the others that i know i am probably missing #mwah

[autistic-duck]

(Very long post, sorry.)

I had an experience with a college professor last semester that really got me thinking about academics and ableism, specifically in college writing.

A few months ago, my class was having an open discussion, and I brought up an opinion that had been on my mind for a while.

I basically said, "There's a gap between college-level writing and the average person's reading level that we need to fill. Nobody should need to look up words every three seconds to understand a study that could affect their life, so we either need more people to rewrite these studies for the general public to understand, or these studies, in general, should be published with language that isn't so complicated."

My professor responded by saying something like, "Sure, that's a good goal. However, wouldn't a better goal be to raise the average person's reading level so that everyone can understand college-level writing?"

I (in my frantic and confused way) tried to bring up the fact that there are people born at a disadvantage in life. In fact, getting everyone to a perfect college reading level isn't a realistic goal. It certainly isn't for me, and I don't want it to have to be for other people. In fact, the professor who told me this also struggled to understand the chapters we were assigned to read in that class.

Really, it all comes down to this: college-level language is inaccessible.

Even more importantly, many people will never be able to understand most of the huge words thrown around in college writing.

At school, I am constantly told my writing style is "simple" and "easy to understand." This is something my classmates have told me isn't "bad" but just "different." However, I'm still insecure whenever someone mentions it because it is always pointed out. I use a smaller vocabulary, they seem to say, but don't worry. It's just a preferred writing style, they reassure me. They think the simple language is a choice I could stop at any time.

Well, what if it isn't just a "style"? What if I struggle to expand my vocabulary? Learning one new word takes me ages because I need to see it in all kinds of contexts. Even then, oftentimes "context clues" are no help, and I completely misinterpret the meaning of a word for years because it seems like every other native English speaker knew what it meant without needing to say it. A lot of the time I'll read the definition of a new word and instantly forget it after finishing the sentence it was in.

So yeah, I'll say it with pride: Simple words are powerful. Simple words are beautiful. And most importantly, simple words are not inferior in any way to words like "quintessential" or "expedient." (I have no idea what either of those words mean even though I've looked them up plenty of times and used them accurately in essays before.)

Simplicity is why I like shows meant for all ages better than shows meant only for adults. Because in shows that are written with children in mind, there aren't confusing messages you have to spend energy untangling. There aren't unnecessary analogies or feelings that are "implied" but never said. The characters' facial expressions and emotions are easy to read and the moments where I am confused are rare.

Now, this is all coming from an autistic person with low support needs. My reading comprehension score is considered slightly above average, and so is my problem-solving abilities which means I am lucky and I can understand a lot of what I read in college. The main point of this little "essay" was to point out a common conversation I despise hearing in college, the one about simple language and its implied inferiority.

Because guess what? Language is not accessible to everybody. Many of us, even those with high reading comprehension, struggle.

Our goal should never be to make everyone capable of reading college-level books and studies. That is asking for those who need accommodations to accommodate themselves, something I'm sure other disabled people are tired of having to do. Instead, the goal should be making college language more accessible, making knowledge accessible. After all, the reader is only a fragment of the conversation. The writer is the majority of it.

TLDR; Everyone deserves access to language and knowledge that makes sense, and bigger words never mean they are better.

#actually autistic #ableism #autism pride #autism awareness #actuallyautistic #autism #asd #learning disability #accessibility #disability #college #academics #university #student #autistic spectrum #autistic #autism spectrum disorder #autism spectrum #tw ableism

[isnt-it-pretty]

When I was a kid, I didn't read. One of my learning disabilities is reading, and it was really difficult for me to make sense of words. They gave me as much extra help in school as they could, but it didn't really do anything. I was several grades behind everybody else, and tbh, I was probably halfway illiterate by the time I was ten, but I honestly can't remember.

And then my older sister brought Sandry's Book home from the library as an audiobook. This was in 2008, when audiobooks were a lot less common than they are now. It was on a CD and I remember sitting in my room listening to it, and feeling my chest swell from joy and excitement.

It was life-changing. I was enthralled by the story of these four kids. I read the physical book along with it, and finally, finally, reading made sense. I could finally match up the sounds I heard with the words I saw, and it clicked in a way it never had before.

I taught myself to read from Tammy's books. The first book I ever read cover to cover of my own accord was Magic Steps. The very first piece of fanfiction I wrote was on loose-leaf paper for Tamora Pierce.

As a bullied kid, it was clear I was unwanted everywhere I went. But in Tammy's books? Those four were unwanted too. They were hurt and angry but they often chose to be kind, even when it was hard. They stood up for what they believed in even if nobody else did.

These books changed my life in ways I can't express. I'm not sure I would love reading as much as I do if I hadn't been given her books. If I didn't read, I definitely wouldn't write.

Even if the books aren't complicated technical writing-wise, and the world-building doesn't always line up, they will forever hold a special place in my heart. I wouldn't be who I am without them.

#tamora pierce #reading #learning disability #reading disability #circle of magic #sandry's book #i told this story on my discord but I wanted to share it here too

[samijami]

I hate how I'm expected to grow out of my learning disabilities

#adhd post #actually adhd #adhd thoughts #adhd brain #adhd mood #autism #actually austistic #austism #autistic feels #autistic experiences #autistic things #autistic life #actually audhd #audhd things #audhd #attention deficit hyperactivity disorder #attention defecit #autism spectrum disorder #autism spectrum condition #learning disability #learning disorder #learning disabled #mentally disordered #mentally disabled #child neglect #tw child neglect #tired of being tired #mentally tired #tired of this shit #tired thoughts

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

hey by the way learning disabilities is not the same as intellectual disability

dyslexia dyscalculia dysgraphia is learning disability not intellectual disability

not interchangeable

educate yourself stop talking over people with intellectual disability

#intellectual disability #learning disability #loaf screm