Ramona Said:

Is it possible to become a police officer even if you have a learning disability?

We Answered:

I think that you can. It is a disability not an inability, and it can be overcome. You have to work hard, and reach for the stars. People told me I couldn'/t be a firefighter I was to small, I was to weak, I was this I was that. But here I am 7 years later on the job doing it for real. I never quit. I am not the smartest, or the strongest but I got a heart the size of a lion. Don't quit, if you try and you fail, then try again. That said I beleive that you are protected by the americans with disability act. It is against the law to be discrimanated against for your disablity and the law says reasonable accomaditons must be made. I beleive they will give you more time. Not sure though, maybe they will have a guide for you to explain each question better? Again not sure, but I just wanted to offer words of encouragement. Do not quit. Go for your dreams.

Casey Said:

Anybody with a learning disability or experience with one?

We Answered:

I also had trouble reading, and I realized that when I was reading, I was reading the spaces around the words, rather than the actual words. I was lucky enough to be working with an occupational therapist who taught me how to read when reading spaces. Today, I read faster than anyone else I know. I can run my eye down the page and have read the entire page in no more than 10 seconds, all because I read the page's spaces rather than the words in the spaces.

I wouldn't be to quick to call it a learning disability. I always hated being associated with the special ed students because of the stigma attached with it. I was always a really smart kid. I am still smart. I called it a learning difference. Society lumps those who learn differently than individuals in the mainstream into categories that they call people with learning disabilities. I surprised to see that my learning "disability" was actually something I did really well; it's something that I still do well.

Emma Said:

How can an adult overcome a learning disability?

We Answered:

Ok I am wondering what learning disablilty you feel you have? My son has learning difficulties....he has attention and social difficulties, which have lead to difficulties in the classroom. My concern is that just because you have only had afew jobs you liked (not an odd thing, how many of us truely love our jobs on a everyday basis) and that school was hard (when is it not for anyone) that you are trying to find excuses for your inablilty to achieve success.

Maybe you do need to see a therapist, not for learning difficulties, but for self doubt and motivation. You are still young and have a lifetime ahead, you are so packed full of potenial that you sound like you need to find the area that interests you and fires you up and concentrate your mind and will power on that. Also think positively, self belief is a powerful tool hun.

And by the way, my son has AD/HD, OCD (Oppositional conduct disorder), Dyslexia, and Anxiety. Hes only 13 but is so strong and has such a powerful self belief that these issus are a strength not a weakness :) Remember there is alway someone worse off than you, its about how we use our own powers that defines us :)

Charles Said:

I need financial assistance for my sisters learning disability treatment?

We Answered:

I also have an adult nephew with learning disabilities so I know what you're going through.

Because she is an adult, start with her county's department of social services. They will get the ball rolling. She will be sent to a psychiatrist for testing to see how bad her disability is. Once they have that information, it is turned over to the state's department of rehabilitative services and she will get a case worker. Of course, she has to go to all of these appointments. And, she will need to sign a waiver at each department that they can talk to you about her results and treatment because she's an adult.
We did this for my nephew and he now goes to classes and counseling. We're hoping that they will be able to get him a job and provide him with a group home to live in. He's 29.
Of course, she will pay nothing for these services. Nothing.

Best wishes to you and your sister.

Alfredo Said:

How to tell what learning disability I have?

We Answered:

The vast majority of people with language based learning disabilities have dyslexia. So based on the scant information provided, that would be my guess. However, there are other disabilities that also affect language -- slow processing disorder and attention deficits are two of them. I'd start with dyslexia and see if that seems to fit.

You can get tested by a private company to find out, but it's expensive and your parents may not care about a specific diagnosis as long as you are making progress in Special Ed. If you are in the US, there is a Center for Dyslexia at Middle Tennessee State University that can review your school's testing and provide a diagnosis. They aren't nearly as expensive, but they generally have a big backlog.