NLDLine

Presenting My NLD Story

by Laurie Reed

Author of 

Unaware:  Living with a Non-verbal Learning Disability

The O.T. class that I was a guest speaker for was Occupations in Adulthood. I used visuals with the definition, assets, and deficits. I also baked cookies.

The questions that I was to answer were:
1. How has N.L.D. affected my life?
*All areas except penmanship
*With N.L.D. the right brain is affected.
*The areas affected were: processing, confrontation naming, coordination body mechanics-back, knee,and elbow deficits. I'm not comfortable with the thought
of running. Perceptual problems(getting lost), I hate parallel parking but I do it. Social judgement deficits-this has greatly improved-thank God-I'm  fortunate to have the many friends I do. And, they are lucky to have me. With executive functioning, I'm a
follower; however, when I talk about N.L.D., I feel like a leader.

2. How I'm dealing with it?
*I have a great therapist.
*From volunteering, I have made many friends.
*I don't feel like a nerd anymore.
*I feel great being able to share this with you today.
*I'm working on my fear of dogs.
*I'm writing another book.
*Receiving social security and HIRSP
*The dosage of zoloft has been decreased, and I've lost weight.
*I enjoy tutoring, volunteering the 1st and 2nd graders at my alma mater.
*Baking cookies for the children is a treat.

3.What do I want for the future?
*I will always be a O.T.A. I have the diploma. However with right brain deficits working in O.T. will not be possible, for me anyway. That doesn't mean that somebody else with N.L.D. couldn't achieve it.
*I'm an author-broke-not well known.
*It was never a part of my plan to be on social security.

***I welcome suggestions from any of you about the future- Being that this class is Occupations for Adults. The obstacle that sticks with me is that being fired from 3 O.T. jobs feels like dying 3x's and going to hell and back.

****The one area of focus maybe for OT's to educate employers about N.L.D. and teach persons with N.L.D. how to compensate for right brain deficits.

*!*!*! The students gave me around of applause.

My website is www.lauriereed.com