Learning Difficulties are Learning Differences
I was considered a slow learner at school. I was called stupid by other pupils, but in truth I was always classed in the ‘could do better’ category of learner. I showed enough promise for (some) teachers to have (some) hopes for me, and disappointed high expectations often enough to have most teachers writing me off as more trouble than I was worth. My headmaster at junior school described me as ‘vague’ at a parent-teacher meeting; he said he could never be sure he was getting through to me. My physics teacher at senior school smirked as he told my parents ‘he’ll find his level.’ My senior school headmaster laughed aloud when he found out that the local sixth form college had allowed me to enroll: ‘they must be trying to fill their classes,’ he told my clever friends.
I did find my level. I went on to top grade at ‘A’ level and study for an honours degree, a masters, and a PhD. That's more than any of the teachers who ridiculed me ever achieved. Anyhow. I make the point to emphasize that the learning difficulties that people may have at school are often social difficulties, which is to say, difficulties in learning the same way at the same pace as others in a social setting. I was always out of step with others in class, and at every level, from infants and juniors to ‘A’ level. The more I was able to take control of my level, the better and the quicker I learned. By the time I was studying for a degree my controlling tendencies were insufferable – I would take over classes, dominate the exchanges, and turn the dialogue into a monologue. But I was good. I was an intellectual high flyer. The problem was, the higher I flew intellectually, the more challenged I became socially.
With every wish there comes a curse. I’d gone from being a slow learner to being a high flyer. I flew so high as to leave others behind and beneath me. I dominated and intimidated others.
Which is to say ..
Try to see learning difficulties as learning differences.
Working at your own pace, you can indeed find your own level, and that level is often far higher than your teachers may think.
There is such a thing as a social and an emotional intelligence, and you should take care to nurture those things as you take care to develop your academic abilities.
Keep a balanced perspective.
And play some football! Keep mind and body in unison.
As to the graphic on neurodiversity in education, the devil is in the detail. Different things will apply differently to different people. I was appalling at arithmetic and mathematics, I was exceedingly good with words and language. I was poor with motor skills and coordination, never learned to ride a bike, obtained my Learners’ swimmers’ certificate after umpteen fails, lacked touch and coordination on the sports’ field (but could do it all unobserved on my own). I was easily distracted and lost concentration easily. I was also quickly bored and welcomed distractions as an excuse to stop working. With a subject that interests me I can maintain focus for hours on end.
There is, in short, no even picture, only extremes. Whatever else such learning difficulty is, it is not stupidity, anything but.
