when I was six years old I told my mom that letters don’t make words a simple
that letters don’t make words a simple
that letters don’t make words a simple comment that could be laughed off as
comment that could be laughed off as
comment that could be laughed off as something little kids say doesn’t make
something little kids say doesn’t make
something little kids say doesn’t make any sense but they’re cute when they say
any sense but they’re cute when they say
any sense but they’re cute when they say it my mom didn’t do exactly that I don’t
it my mom didn’t do exactly that I don’t
it my mom didn’t do exactly that I don’t think she took it to heart but she
think she took it to heart but she
think she took it to heart but she definitely didn’t ignore it as I grew up
definitely didn’t ignore it as I grew up
definitely didn’t ignore it as I grew up letters still didn’t make words they
letters still didn’t make words they
letters still didn’t make words they were separate words were words and
were separate words were words and
were separate words were words and sentences were sentences and paragraphs
sentences were sentences and paragraphs
sentences were sentences and paragraphs were paragraphs they had nothing to do
were paragraphs they had nothing to do
were paragraphs they had nothing to do with each other
with each other
with each other I learned my ABCs when I relatively
I learned my ABCs when I relatively
I learned my ABCs when I relatively should have preschool 3 4 years old and
should have preschool 3 4 years old and
should have preschool 3 4 years old and I like to sing it a lot that was
I like to sing it a lot that was
I like to sing it a lot that was something about me if I could sing
something about me if I could sing
something about me if I could sing something if I could say something I
something if I could say something I
something if I could say something I would it hasn’t really stopped but when
would it hasn’t really stopped but when
would it hasn’t really stopped but when it came to words they were foreign words
it came to words they were foreign words
it came to words they were foreign words didn’t have meaning I for a long time
didn’t have meaning I for a long time
didn’t have meaning I for a long time was illiterate I couldn’t read and I
was illiterate I couldn’t read and I
was illiterate I couldn’t read and I couldn’t write if you put a book in
couldn’t write if you put a book in
couldn’t write if you put a book in front of me depending on my age I would
front of me depending on my age I would
front of me depending on my age I would either stare at it blankly or fake it
either stare at it blankly or fake it
either stare at it blankly or fake it and when I mean by fake it is that I
and when I mean by fake it is that I
and when I mean by fake it is that I figure it out really soon if you look
figure it out really soon if you look
figure it out really soon if you look like you’re reading and you act like
like you’re reading and you act like
like you’re reading and you act like you’re reading the teacher will think
you’re reading the teacher will think
you’re reading the teacher will think you’re reading I had to learn a lot of
you’re reading I had to learn a lot of
you’re reading I had to learn a lot of things like that elementary school for
things like that elementary school for
things like that elementary school for me was a time of trying to fit in in the
me was a time of trying to fit in in the
me was a time of trying to fit in in the classroom socially I had friends recess
classroom socially I had friends recess
classroom socially I had friends recess was the best time but in class I was
was the best time but in class I was
was the best time but in class I was different in 2nd grade I was diagnosed
different in 2nd grade I was diagnosed
different in 2nd grade I was diagnosed with dyslexia a learning-based language
with dyslexia a learning-based language
with dyslexia a learning-based language disability that is very common a lot of
disability that is very common a lot of
disability that is very common a lot of people have it enough where if you say
people have it enough where if you say
people have it enough where if you say to someone
to someone
to someone they’ll probably nod their head and be
they’ll probably nod their head and be
they’ll probably nod their head and be like oh yeah I know what that is but for
like oh yeah I know what that is but for
like oh yeah I know what that is but for me it has always been more than just B’s
me it has always been more than just B’s
me it has always been more than just B’s and DS it was a lack of access because I
and DS it was a lack of access because I
and DS it was a lack of access because I never had the proper education at that
never had the proper education at that
never had the proper education at that young age to give me literacy the world
young age to give me literacy the world
young age to give me literacy the world didn’t look the same street signs meant
didn’t look the same street signs meant
didn’t look the same street signs meant nothing books meant nothing the Internet
nothing books meant nothing the Internet
nothing books meant nothing the Internet beyond videos and pictures meant nothing
beyond videos and pictures meant nothing
beyond videos and pictures meant nothing if I was playing a video game and there
if I was playing a video game and there
if I was playing a video game and there were written instructions I’d ignore it
were written instructions I’d ignore it
were written instructions I’d ignore it and just figure it out but that was
and just figure it out but that was
and just figure it out but that was until I got to the right school and I
until I got to the right school and I
until I got to the right school and I didn’t get to the right school because
didn’t get to the right school because
didn’t get to the right school because of luck or because of teachers I got to
of luck or because of teachers I got to
of luck or because of teachers I got to the right school because of my parents
the right school because of my parents
the right school because of my parents they were vigilant and they said
they were vigilant and they said
they were vigilant and they said something is wrong are curious
something is wrong are curious
something is wrong are curious intelligent insightful talkative little
intelligent insightful talkative little
intelligent insightful talkative little girl isn’t reading isn’t writing and the
girl isn’t reading isn’t writing and the
girl isn’t reading isn’t writing and the teachers she has are telling us to wait
teachers she has are telling us to wait
teachers she has are telling us to wait wait for what nothing so they took it
wait for what nothing so they took it
wait for what nothing so they took it into their own hands they tried
into their own hands they tried
into their own hands they tried everything they tried summer tutors they
everything they tried summer tutors they
everything they tried summer tutors they tried summer school they tried extra
tried summer school they tried extra
tried summer school they tried extra help they helped me in every way they
help they helped me in every way they
help they helped me in every way they could but it wasn’t enough my dyslexia
could but it wasn’t enough my dyslexia
could but it wasn’t enough my dyslexia was too severe to be augmented with a
was too severe to be augmented with a
was too severe to be augmented with a little help
little help
little help luckily they found a school that wasn’t
luckily they found a school that wasn’t
luckily they found a school that wasn’t that far away about 45 minutes from home
that far away about 45 minutes from home
that far away about 45 minutes from home and fortunately they had the financial
and fortunately they had the financial
and fortunately they had the financial means to send me there a private school
means to send me there a private school
means to send me there a private school that tailors their education for
that tailors their education for
that tailors their education for students with learning based language
students with learning based language
students with learning based language disabilities I was fortunate lucky and
disabilities I was fortunate lucky and
disabilities I was fortunate lucky and so thankful to go there from 5th through
so thankful to go there from 5th through
so thankful to go there from 5th through 12th grade I am certain without that
12th grade I am certain without that
12th grade I am certain without that education I wouldn’t be here today and I
education I wouldn’t be here today and I
education I wouldn’t be here today and I don’t mean on this stage I mean in
don’t mean on this stage I mean in
don’t mean on this stage I mean in college I probably well maybe would have
college I probably well maybe would have
college I probably well maybe would have flunked out of high school like
flunked out of high school like
flunked out of high school like thousands of other students with
thousands of other students with
thousands of other students with learning disabilities who do not get the
learning disabilities who do not get the
learning disabilities who do not get the help they need the school system that we
help they need the school system that we
help they need the school system that we depend on as a nation doesn’t help these
depend on as a nation doesn’t help these
depend on as a nation doesn’t help these students and more often than not they
students and more often than not they
students and more often than not they don’t really understand what’s wrong and
don’t really understand what’s wrong and
don’t really understand what’s wrong and they go their entire life struggling
they go their entire life struggling
they go their entire life struggling some of them never even get diagnosed
some of them never even get diagnosed
some of them never even get diagnosed many of the parents of students at my
many of the parents of students at my
many of the parents of students at my specialized school didn’t even know they
specialized school didn’t even know they
specialized school didn’t even know they had dyslexia or another learning
had dyslexia or another learning
had dyslexia or another learning disability until their child was Disick
disability until their child was Disick
disability until their child was Disick was diagnosed and then a lot of things
was diagnosed and then a lot of things
was diagnosed and then a lot of things started to make sense for them this
started to make sense for them this
started to make sense for them this shouldn’t be the narrative this
shouldn’t be the narrative this
shouldn’t be the narrative this shouldn’t be the truth that we live in
shouldn’t be the truth that we live in
shouldn’t be the truth that we live in students should be helped at a young age
students should be helped at a young age
students should be helped at a young age I had all the potential to be literate
I had all the potential to be literate
I had all the potential to be literate at a young age but the methods in which
at a young age but the methods in which
at a young age but the methods in which I was taught did not give me that it’s a
I was taught did not give me that it’s a
I was taught did not give me that it’s a big problem with big questions and big
big problem with big questions and big
big problem with big questions and big answers none that I have I’d be lying to
answers none that I have I’d be lying to
answers none that I have I’d be lying to you if I said well if we do X Y & Z it
you if I said well if we do X Y & Z it
you if I said well if we do X Y & Z it would all be better it’s not that simple
would all be better it’s not that simple
would all be better it’s not that simple the education system in this country
the education system in this country
the education system in this country isn’t that simple but one thing that
isn’t that simple but one thing that
isn’t that simple but one thing that sticks out to me through those years of
sticks out to me through those years of
sticks out to me through those years of being different is the way people talked
being different is the way people talked
being different is the way people talked about me the way in which they talked to
about me the way in which they talked to
about me the way in which they talked to me I was slow I was dumb I was stupid
me I was slow I was dumb I was stupid
me I was slow I was dumb I was stupid and according to one playground bully I
and according to one playground bully I
and according to one playground bully I was retarded I was worthless and those
was retarded I was worthless and those
was retarded I was worthless and those feelings they’ve stuck with me and
feelings they’ve stuck with me and
feelings they’ve stuck with me and they’ve stuck with a lot of kids like me
they’ve stuck with a lot of kids like me
they’ve stuck with a lot of kids like me and it isn’t just little elementary
and it isn’t just little elementary
and it isn’t just little elementary school kids and playground bullies it’s
school kids and playground bullies it’s
school kids and playground bullies it’s teachers who look at you with pity and
teachers who look at you with pity and
teachers who look at you with pity and little confidence maybe parents who
little confidence maybe parents who
little confidence maybe parents who don’t really know what to do or even in
don’t really know what to do or even in
don’t really know what to do or even in high school cafeterias where you say it
high school cafeterias where you say it
high school cafeterias where you say it took me so long to write that paper and
took me so long to write that paper and
took me so long to write that paper and everyone goes what do you mean it was so
everyone goes what do you mean it was so
everyone goes what do you mean it was so easy
easy
easy not everything is easy not everything is
not everything is easy not everything is
not everything is easy not everything is simple and for so many people the act of
simple and for so many people the act of
simple and for so many people the act of getting up every day and going to school
getting up every day and going to school
getting up every day and going to school whether elementary middle high or
whether elementary middle high or
whether elementary middle high or college is the hardest thing they have
college is the hardest thing they have
college is the hardest thing they have to do it feels impossible there are days
to do it feels impossible there are days
to do it feels impossible there are days when I know what is waiting for me in
when I know what is waiting for me in
when I know what is waiting for me in those classrooms and in my assignments
those classrooms and in my assignments
those classrooms and in my assignments and I don’t want to get up I don’t even
and I don’t want to get up I don’t even
and I don’t want to get up I don’t even want to look at it but I do and what
want to look at it but I do and what
want to look at it but I do and what helps me is having supportive people who
helps me is having supportive people who
helps me is having supportive people who understand or try to who
understand or try to who
understand or try to who sighs who talked to me in a way that
sighs who talked to me in a way that
sighs who talked to me in a way that isn’t belittling the way in which we
isn’t belittling the way in which we
isn’t belittling the way in which we talk about disability can change that is
talk about disability can change that is
talk about disability can change that is something that has a simple answer it’s
something that has a simple answer it’s
something that has a simple answer it’s being aware in the way we talk that
being aware in the way we talk that
being aware in the way we talk that disabilities are just that disabilities
disabilities are just that disabilities
disabilities are just that disabilities they aren’t what makes a person people
they aren’t what makes a person people
they aren’t what makes a person people with disabilities aren’t those
with disabilities aren’t those
with disabilities aren’t those disabilities and the way in which we
disabilities and the way in which we
disabilities and the way in which we speak to them speak to the acts that we
speak to them speak to the acts that we
speak to them speak to the acts that we do every day that for you might be easy
do every day that for you might be easy
do every day that for you might be easy maybe calculus is a breeze I know
maybe calculus is a breeze I know
maybe calculus is a breeze I know there’s a lot of people who don’t think
there’s a lot of people who don’t think
there’s a lot of people who don’t think that and going around laughing at them
that and going around laughing at them
that and going around laughing at them saying it’s so easy doesn’t help anyone
saying it’s so easy doesn’t help anyone
saying it’s so easy doesn’t help anyone and for people with disabilities that’s
and for people with disabilities that’s
and for people with disabilities that’s amplified so think about the way in
amplified so think about the way in
amplified so think about the way in which we talk talk to each other talk
which we talk talk to each other talk
which we talk talk to each other talk about things we do if you were to
about things we do if you were to
about things we do if you were to walking with someone who was in a
walking with someone who was in a
walking with someone who was in a wheelchair and started going up the
wheelchair and started going up the
wheelchair and started going up the stairs would you turn around and look at
stairs would you turn around and look at
stairs would you turn around and look at them and say come on it’s easy I think
them and say come on it’s easy I think
them and say come on it’s easy I think not for people with invisible
not for people with invisible
not for people with invisible disabilities such as a learning
disabilities such as a learning
disabilities such as a learning disability such as dyslexia this is even
disability such as dyslexia this is even
disability such as dyslexia this is even more true it’s not like someone in a
more true it’s not like someone in a
more true it’s not like someone in a wheelchair you can’t see it so being
wheelchair you can’t see it so being
wheelchair you can’t see it so being aware being conscious is the first step
aware being conscious is the first step
aware being conscious is the first step to using language that is inclusive
to using language that is inclusive
to using language that is inclusive inclusivity is a great tool for people
inclusivity is a great tool for people
inclusivity is a great tool for people with disabilities and for people without
with disabilities and for people without
with disabilities and for people without by including those people in the
by including those people in the
by including those people in the language that you use or don’t use can
language that you use or don’t use can
language that you use or don’t use can make a world of a difference I know
make a world of a difference I know
make a world of a difference I know there are days when I want to leave a
there are days when I want to leave a
there are days when I want to leave a classroom because the ableism stinks in
classroom because the ableism stinks in
classroom because the ableism stinks in it but I don’t I sit and I talk but not
it but I don’t I sit and I talk but not
it but I don’t I sit and I talk but not everyone that’s up for that not everyone
everyone that’s up for that not everyone
everyone that’s up for that not everyone is up for being an ambassador to
is up for being an ambassador to
is up for being an ambassador to disabilities to learning to education so
disabilities to learning to education so
disabilities to learning to education so we as individuals need to be conscious
we as individuals need to be conscious
we as individuals need to be conscious need to think statistically speaking I
need to think statistically speaking I
need to think statistically speaking I am not the only person in this room with
am not the only person in this room with
am not the only person in this room with a disability visible or invisible would
a disability visible or invisible would
a disability visible or invisible would you want the people around you to feel
you want the people around you to feel
you want the people around you to feel bad about themselves and about their
bad about themselves and about their
bad about themselves and about their ability or lack thereof it would you
ability or lack thereof it would you
ability or lack thereof it would you want them to feel excluded thank you
”
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