[shortandcute]

I have a learning disability and it has affected several of my jobs. I have had to work twice as hard as others to get half as much done, and many people have gotten frustrated with me. I've had supervisors think I was just goofing off, and therefore would put more work on me to "teach me a lesson." I've been bullied at several of my jobs over it, I've had friends and family members accuse me of "playing dumb,'' and had a lot of people get irritated with me because I needed help doing things that most people don't need help with.

Any other stories or experiences any one would like to share?

[puzzclar]

I was put on a 504 and an IEP in grade school (in the U.S.) and was bullied as a kid. SOME people have a hard time with learning, and they don't understand it. But as time goes by you learn how you learn!!!! It took getting on the right medications to help me, and so far, my learning disability has gone away, as long as I take meds.

People dont' understand the amount of work we have to put in, to learn the same stuff as other people.

[Fresia]

I struggled with some jobs and can relate to your experience. My learning disability wasn't diagnosed until much later in life when I attempted college the second time. A wise professor guided me to the right people for testing and help. Since then, as Puzzclar mentions, it has been a matter of relearning how to work with it, (with the exception of lately), and finding ways of talking to people about it so they understand I need to work at my own pace. It may be slower, but is steady and will be done. None of us are alone in our strengths and weakness, we all have different capabilities, learning disability or not. We are better off asking for help when we need it, than to pretend otherwise. A job that does not understand this, sometimes it can be wise to find a place that does understand it and will work with us rather than tear us down.

What has helped me the most has been on working with a T on skills to apply to school and work, and has made a big difference. I don't know if this is an option but might be something worth considering.

[CWC3]

My struggles as a kid with ADHD, a learning disability and mild Tourette disorder have definitely left scars. I'm currently a college student and doing fairly well, but I'm struggling with healing from these memories.

I know what it's like to try twice as hard for half as much. I ran away as fast I could from these when I started being able to learn MY way, but I'm currently reassessing this angry, scared, and resentful motivator of mine. I've been successful against these adversities, but only because I was trying to prove I wasn't a failure.

Can you relate? I know I'm still a student, but I know no matter how old you are, we are all capable of growth and change. Keep trying. Keep searching. I still am.

-CHANGEwillcome

[Switch]

I have a learning disability, as well as MI's. I have a hard time handwriting because I think faster than my hand does and I miss large parts of words or sentences, it's too messy to read, and stuff like that. I have accommodations at school for it, and I think I always have. I use to take advantage of it because I can write an essay in an hour, and get an okay grade on it. I use to get people at school to pay me to write their essays, and then skip class and write them for them. 20-40$ per essay.

What I didn't realize was that conic disorganization, and an inability to read some times (words will stop making sense) were part of that. For school it's manageable, but for work it becomes difficult. I'll miss a lot of things at work, and in a normal job that would be the worst but it's okay where I was working (on leave currently) because my boss understood and it would usually just be a bunch of small mistakes instead of big ones. I'm worried about getting a "real job" though because of it.

So, ((((shortandcute)))) I completely understand.

[shezbut]

My learning disability wasn't recognized or diagnosed until my late-20's, as I finally decided to go to college. I was then able to get double time to do my tests, as my memory has to work harder to recall information.

I've tried hard to keep this disorder to myself work-wise, but have suffered chronic work problems as a result. I am on SSI now, but got a job through a state funded work center. My disability has become more significant after brain surgery and traumatic brain injury, so I am able to get handicap assistance on the job, if I need it.

Perhaps that would be a possibility for others as well? In my case, someone would come from the local Workforce Center and help me process the information, to gain a better understanding of what to do, how to do it, and try to improve the speed at which I work.