Overcoming the Odds: A Journey Through Learning Disabilities, Resilience, and Achievement

I was born blue, as the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck, which required a C-section. This was the start of a long history of struggle as an African American male. The next signs came as I shut down in communication in preschool. As I continued into the other grades, my difficulties became clear. And I was tested.

The results came back with a “Learning Disability, Undefined”. From then on, for the rest of my days in elementary, junior high, and high school, I would shift between regular classes in which I excelled, or, was okay in the class, leaving me to deal with my remedial classes and the continued struggle of feeling broken, as others didn’t have the same problems I did. Additionally, living in a home with a parent who cared and another who had an abusive nature left a bar that could never be reached and a warped sense of pride that kept me from seeing the damage they caused around them.

One of the things that I had to my advantage was technology; I couldn’t be afraid to learn about and use it. So, learning word processors, voice dictation where possible, and other things helped me make sure I graduated from high school.

Once I began college, I continued in remedial classes. My remedial English teacher suggested that I be tested.  I let them know I had been, and they suggested getting an updated test. The updated test yielded the following results: “Difficulties with English grammar mechanics, punctuation, and high-level math concepts.” I realized I couldn’t handle my major's Math and Engineering classes. So, I changed majors, and 7 years later, I graduated with a degree.

It would be another 10 years before I would return to school for a Master’s Degree in Psychology: Counseling Psychology. I worked many jobs and attempted to train in other subjects, which kept me going but never advancing. Once there, I continued to struggle to handle the coursework. I would write papers long before I fully understood the concepts to get them written. It required the sacrifice of time with friends and many of my other interests to make it to graduation.

Then came my internship toward licensing. I knew the licensing exam was going to be a major block. While at the agency I was interning at, I had myself retested to have the updated support to request accommodations for the exam. It was this testing that resulted in the diagnosis of dyslexia, which I suspect is dyscalculia.  The request for accommodation was submitted, and yet I failed the exam 3 times.

A new manager was overseeing the department that handled the testing. I returned and discussed the problems I was having, as I was certain that it was the source of my continued difficulties despite the test training classes I had taken many times. The new manager pointed out that they weren’t surprised by the results of my test in relation to the licensing exam. The accommodation had been written for an educational environment, not a licensing exam based on reasoning. Additionally, the manager then informed me that there was training support for my dyslexia that I could attend. The kicker was that this support had been around for 30 years. I was in my early 40s at that moment in time. The rage that filled me was massive, but I wasn’t here to destroy the world like that of my parent, whose own unrecognized learning disability was a factor in their cruelty.

We submitted new accommodations, and while I waited, I attended the training program for the next 60 hours of their program. I tested again with the new accommodations and passed.

Now, I have my own practice, run a business, and have created a podcast. I still struggle with moments of thinking about being broken. Then, I look for the resources, technology, and people who can help address whatever I’m looking to do. So that means I keep learning and finding a way where I can.

Perry C