Dear Young Adults, 

Having a learning disability is not easy, and certainly not fun. We understand, and so this page is advice to you from people who grew up with a learning disability. We hope these tips will give you guidance and encouragement.

When growing up with a learning disability, it is common, and very normal, to be scared to speak up in class and ask questions. This is perfectly understandable, but we want to encourage you to take a risk and speak out as early as possible. Demand help! Get your hand high in the sky and step out of the shell of fear of inadequacy and stupidity. There is nothing to be ashamed of. One out of five kids has a learning disability and is living with the same inner fears as you (you’re not alone). Under Federal Law, students with learning disabilities are entitled to help and treatment! Know what you deserve and speak up. We promise, you will get a lot farther once you embrace your learning disability and seek help. 

You are entitled to have a specially qualified teacher work with you in school. Depending on your learning disability, they will use different techniques. The approach that has been shown to be most effective is Multi-Sensory Instruction (engaging sight, hearing, touch and movement). Ask questions about the type of instruction you are receiving and monitor it carefully to make sure it is working.

Set goals! We encourage you to recognize your goals and begin to work your way closer to them. Keep yourself motivated by breaking your big goal into smaller goals that are “easier” to achieve. For example, maybe you want to be a future astronaut. To achieve this long-term goal, set smaller goals such as identifying a particular scientific area that could lead to being an astronaut. Break that learning goal into smaller steps, and continue doing that until each step is achievable. Once you complete each step, you are one step closer, and you can feel the progress you make with the work you do. When you can feel your progress, you are less likely to give up. Doing a little bit each day adds up, and it gets easier. (Pro tip: use checklists to keep track of all those smaller goals! You have no idea how helpful and motivating it can be just to check something off.) 

Learn from your mistakes! Mistakes are valuable ways of growing, and this skill will help you soar throughout your entire life. Here’s how it works: try something, fail, figure out what went wrong, and try again. Every time something does not go the way you expected, look for the lesson in it. Ask yourself questions like: Why did it happen? Is there something you forgot to do? Is there something you can learn? This is a skill that takes some practice, but it is important to have the strength to look at failures and mistakes as learning points. If you fail at something, whether once or ten times, don’t EVER assume that it was because you aren’t “good at it” or that you aren’t “smart enough”. Keep adjusting your action based on what you learned from your last failure. (Pro tip: the most successful start-ups succeeded by learning from their failures. Treat yourself like a start-up! Embrace failure as a way to learn.) 

Accept that you cannot make your LD disappear, but you can RISE with it!  Recognize that you are not any less than than your peers. Once you learn to embrace your LD, you will soar and become more confident. You will demand the help you need, work harder, and start checking off those goals from the checklist. An LD won’t stop you from achieving anything unless you let it. Take pride in yourself! Your LD will make you stronger, more persistent, more creative and more resilient than your peers who do not have an LD.

Focus on self-growth! There are so many distractions in life, but to grow stronger than your LD, it is important to take time to prioritize your learning. Getting started early and sticking with it will pay off in the end. 

Stay organized! Practice organizing your life, and learning, as early and as much as you can. Plan out your days, use “to do” lists, and get to know how you learn as early as possible. These are skills that will help you later in life, and if you master them now, you will be ahead of the pack.

The people you surround yourself with affect you! Surround yourself with people who make you a better and happier version of yourself. Have faith in who you are, and be kind to yourself. This will bring out the best and brightest version of yourself! I promise.

Advocate for yourself! Get to know your LD so that you can explain it and know what you need. Be active in your learning plan, and never forget to celebrate yourself and your achievements. 

Build a support system of parents, friends, and teachers who are there for you and who cheer you on. Make sure to build your support system by seeking out people who are your true supporters, and who will build you up. Engage them in your life. Make Rise part of your support system as well! 

With love and support, 

Rise