Sink or Swim: The Challenges of Learning with Special Needs
"And you better start swimmin', or you'll sink like a stone. For the times, they are a-changin'." - Bob Dylan
And I better start swimmin'...
This may surprise some, but despite the nautical theme of my site, I have yet to learn how to swim. It's been a goal of mine for years, so I recently enrolled in adult swimming lessons. A small class, a nice instructor, exciting. Unfortunately, it has been a struggle to keep up with my fellow classmates.
After a difficult lesson, I sought the warm comfort and relief of the nearby hot tub. While soaking and relaxing amid the hot, soothing bubbles, I found myself ruminating on the daily challenges that accompany life with a learning disability.
Even before being officially diagnosed with what was then called Asperger's syndrome, I already knew I learned differently from most children. As a little boy in a regular classroom setting, every school day was a struggle. My teachers were constantly angry and frustrated with me. I felt misunderstood and lost due to the lack of support from the education system.
Thankfully, my parents enrolled me in another elementary school with a stellar special needs program that finally allowed me to learn and flourish. Middle school was an integrated class, and a nightmare (see My Bullying Story). High school was cool, as it was a return to special ed.
Those of us with learning disabilities are just as capable of learning and thriving as anybody else. We just require more time, patience, accommodations, and a different teaching approach. Each of us are unique, and our special needs vary between student and disability.
In my case, due to my autism and the resultant social anxiety, I learn so much better in one-on-one classes or through online courses. I need instructors who understand that I learn differently and can adapt their teaching style to suit my special needs. I also work at a slower pace and need more time to acclimate, gain comfort, and practice whatever it is that I'm learning.
Additionally, I must receive instructions in a slow, clear, and detailed manner. I can't be rushed and require more attention than other students to succeed. I'm also a visual learner and need to be shown what to do before attempting it. None of this is to be a spoiled prince or annoying burden. It's just the way my neurodivergent brain works.
I'm also good at teaching myself new skills with time, patience, research, experimentation, and some good, old-fashioned trial and error. For example, I taught myself how to make all the collages you see around my site. I'm still trying to figure out the confusing HTML language, but still managed to learn enough coding to produce all that you see here. It's so rewarding to persevere through challenging tasks when given the proper tools to succeed.
If I had to describe what it feels like to be learning-disabled without the appropriate accommodations, I would say it's akin to those paintings with simple floral patterns that concealed secret images. You could only see beyond the veil by focusing your eyes a certain way and stepping back a certain distance. I could never see these hidden pictures but would watch as others did and proclaim how cool the effect was. That's how I feel when struggling to learn. If you don't know the paintings I'm referring to, watch Mallrats or Seinfeld.
Hopefully, I shed some light on the experience of living with a learning disability. If you're in the same boat, rest assured you're not alone in your struggles. There's plenty of us in the world who know what you're going through.
In closing, I'm not sure what I'm going to do about my swimming lessons. I don't want to quit but also don't want to get injured or choke on water. I have no doubt my instructor is an excellent swimmer and teacher, but she's quite young and may not have enough experience with special needs students. She already knows I have autism, so maybe I'll talk to her about my concerns. Anyway, love, peace, and chicken grease, y'all.