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Who Knows you have Dyscalclia
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on October 14 2010 02:59 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3044
Joined: 2008-12-31
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welcome, Pirullinen!
I'm very open and will tell anybody unless it's a job interview.
As far as your question about sincerity - I can't control what someone else believes. If I explain and they doubt , disagree, laugh or whatever reaction I consider "negative" or "not helpful" - that's their problem. Even in a situation where accommodations are required under law here, or where I could have a good chance of that even though it may not be legally required, and I encounter someone who disagrees and believes I'm not being sincere, I can still go ahead with my need for accommodations in the face of their disbelief. Then I think - what is it in THEM that refuses to allow them to see, empathize or understand? No answer, no belief on their part - that is how it is. To dwell on how I would like it to be different will not make it different. But still, that doesn't prevent me from going on and doing what is real for me. |
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| i_love_my_ducatis |
Posted on October 15 2010 04:57 AM
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Member
Location: CA
Posts: 26
Joined: 2008-10-06
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I told my coworker that has a son with an LD, I thought maybe I can help her understand how he functions. I'd be really really nervous to tell a supervisor and would never mention it at a job interview. I felt conflicted to tell friends...I want them to just see me normally and without a label. The other thing is, if you tell your workplace...they may try and change your duties or job description (or not promote you)! I'd be scared of that!
Ducati |
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| Forever |
Posted on October 15 2010 12:30 PM
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Member
Location: Poland
Posts: 51
Joined: 2010-05-31
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Everybody, I don't feel ashamed of explaining what it its, even if sometimes people said "oh, something like this doesn't exist". |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on October 15 2010 01:12 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3044
Joined: 2008-12-31
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I always disclose after I get the job. I'm very open about it with co-workers. At the volunteer position I have, I told everybody at a training meeting. From my perspective, they need to know. For me, I think, who cares if they don't believe, aren't interested, don't get it. I've done my part. |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on October 15 2010 05:47 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6103
Joined: 2008-05-25
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10/15/10
I think that what I'm seeing is that, definitely, all of us tell other people about it when we think that the other person could benefit from the knowledge. But, sometimes the 'type' of work that we are doing might influence whether or not we 'pipe up' and tell employers and co-workers. In the legal profession, for example, a law firm that specializes in "intellectual property" could find itself ridiculed or boycotted if it became known to the public that all its Paralegals have LD's. This would be something that other, competing, law firms could cruelly capitalize on to destroy the public's confidence in using that firm. [I'm not saying that this is 'right',... just that it happens.] - jus'
Edited by justfoundout on October 15 2010 05:49 PM |
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| squeakymonster |
Posted on November 01 2010 04:08 AM
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Member
Location: Munising, MI, USA
Posts: 791
Joined: 2010-10-09
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I've only recently found out about dyscalculia and am just now starting to get tested (still looking for a person to test me). Since at this point, I'm self-diagnosed, I do tell people that I'm dyscalculic. Why not? It's not something I go out of my way to talk about, but if it comes up, yes, I mention it.
The two people I'd LOVE to tell is my 11th grade math teachers. Yep, 2 of them... I was in 11th grade math at school (the teacher thought I was lazy and told me so, despite me working super-hard in her class), and a math specialist for my teacher-exploration class. He once singled me out because he didn't think I was paying attention to his lecture on how to solve equations. I was-I play in my hair when I get stressed, and I was playing in my hair at the time. He asked me, in front of everyone, in an angry voice "Do YOU know how to do this? Come up here and show us!". I started freaking out, and went up and did it, but I got the problem wrong-duh, and was told that I needed to pay attention. How do you explain that the subject that this person in authority loves stresses you out, and you were just using a stress coping tool? And in my regular math class, to be told because I'm not good at math, I'm "obviously not a musician", that hurt. If I could find these two math teachers, I'd let them know it wasn't my fault, that they were wrong, and that there is another reason for what they mistook as laziness. I would definitely tell them that I'm dyscalculic. They are most likely the only ones that I would go out of my way to tell, because, for the most part, I do it on a "need to know" basis, with friends, co-workers, and my boss knowing, and certain members of my family know (mostly, the ones I live with and my grandma).
I'm NOT lost, I'm just taking the scenic rout! |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 01 2010 04:23 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3044
Joined: 2008-12-31
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hello squeaky,
I am diagnosed and I remember when I was JUST diagnosed, it was at the time frame where I'd often come back and visit some of my favorite high school teachers. High school was a great experience for me, especially after previous years. Once, maybe my second year of college, one of the teachers I went back to see was my high school pre-algebra/algebra teacher <9th/10th grade> I explained it all. She was stunned and very interested and thankful that I told her because she said it was something she would understand better now in her current students and she could also look for similar signs in the students who were struggling.
I'm sorry you had that experience with the math teachers!
I've been told similarly - "not trying", "not interested" etc.
hugs-
Edited by RottieWoman on November 01 2010 04:25 AM |
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| naynaybeluga |
Posted on November 22 2010 06:57 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 17
Joined: 2010-09-25
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I tell everyone that I deem it necessary to know.
My friends, so they understand my difficulty with directions(like getting to their house, and so I can avoid, "I need to explain it to you again!?" and those peers in my class so when I come to them needing help, they don't get angry when they have to explain something a million times over before I get it.
Teachers/professors/ tutors- So I can get their patience and understanding that I am trying and that it is hard for me to understand. So I can get their patience. That when I come to them for help, they don't get frustrated with me on why I got it yesterday, but don't seem to understand it today and have to explain it a million times again. Also, obviously, for accomidation purposes.
People at work- So they know that I may not remember what I was just told to do. Everyone at work is great, and I usually just laugh good-naturedly that I don't remember, or that I did something in the wrong order. Also, that I need a calculator at the registers. But I wouldn't tell someone during an interview.
My parents- Just because they should know
If it really isn't 'needed' for someone to know, then they don't. But it isnt something I am ashamed of.
Nay
Edited by naynaybeluga on November 22 2010 06:58 AM |
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| katee |
Posted on November 22 2010 05:01 PM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 31
Joined: 2010-10-05
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I'm 14, and none of my friends at school know anything about my Dyscalculia. But i'm going to tell them soon as it will make my life so much easier 
Kate |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 23 2010 04:53 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3044
Joined: 2008-12-31
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I think that is a brave and mature thing to do. One thing that I sometimes have done in the past is write down ideas/thoughts of what I could say about it to someone. It would be brainstorming, anything. Then I'd put it away and come back to it and re-consider and take from what I had.
Another thing I've done in "outing" myself - and I've had various reasons beyond math LD to do that- is to start with one person who I pretty much guessed or knew would be understanding or at least open.
Good Luck! |
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| FairyMay |
Posted on November 28 2010 08:27 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 6
Joined: 2010-11-28
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All my friends, my math teacher (though she does NOT take it seriously AT ALL), and my family
but my mom shrugs it off and says I don't try hard enough kind of
my dad mostly believes it
my sister thinks I just want attention/stole it from degrassi and need to try harder |
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