any adults with LD's with good jobs?

You are being too negative on your son. With that attitude it sounds like you’re making him feel like he can’t be normal and have success.
I have learning disability and bipolar mood disorder. My math is low but I have excellent English skills. I’ve graduated high school and almost completed college. I have a great sales job.
I have supportive parents who believe in me. You have to help your son to believe in himself. I am a very determined and strong willed person and if someone tells me I can’t do something I will prove them wrong.

Laura,
I am not trying to get down on my son. I have encouraged him all along. It is hard though when you have the school “experts” and my husband on one side telling me I am making a big mistake to take him out of the program and then I have my son’t psychologist, and his grandparents on the other telling me that it isn’t for him. I am just trying to get my son to see reality. The school though sees it one way, the psychologist sees it another, and I am trying to see it both ways. I have tried fighting with the school even now to help him with his academic skills. It doesn’t help though when my son says one thing to me, but demonstrates another to the school by not doing the work. It can’t go both ways. There doesn’t seem to be a path to follow, but multiple little dead ends. :?

I just have to say that I am an LD adult with a decent job. I’m not rich, but I manage my money well. One goal I’ve had for years is to work for the Veterans Administration and God truly blessed me when He open the door of opportunity. Although I do have a LOT of struggles, as a psychologist said to me “You’re doing quite well, even with the severity of your Learning Disability”. Unfortunately, my parents were not very supportive. But it sounds like you on the right path. Just let you child know your there for them & give them the encouragement they need.

God Bless
Steven

i work at a hospital i have dislecsia and another wrighting LD i forget what it is, but LDs suck in geniral. my writeing skills are about 3rd grade lvl or so iv been told. but on the plus side to make up for this i have good people skills and i work as a physical therypist helping elderly people and handicapped people get in shape. so dont neglect your sons LDs but defanitly encorage his strengths, becasue his strengths are his crouctch so he will be very advanced in that any ways.

I am an adult with ADD, I am a successful IT consultant running my own buisness. Your son has to find a field that he is interested in no matter how long it takes. In my case the normal college route didnt work but I was able to study on my own and get high level certificates in my field. There are a lot of options for him as long as he does not give up.

I don’t know how good any education is these days - spec. ed or not. Our schools are in a rather terrible state. I’m not sure it’s safe to assume that your son would get a better education out of spec. ed. If though your psychologist and your son feel he should not be in spec. ed, you could always insist to your district that it’s time to give it a try. Of course, it will be a fight - nothing comes easy to parents when working with schools.

If your son feels comfortable outside of spec. ed, then the ‘proof is in the pudding’. If not, he can always return to his spec. ed placement.

Regardless of what program he graduates from, many employeres these days are skeptical about graduates’ academic skills. And just as many are looking for the skills we sadly don’t learn in school like getting along with other people of all ages and kinds, negotiating, and thinking outside the box. Academic skills alone are just one small piece of the puzzle that when put together gets a good job.

And a job done well can always lead to something else. The manager of a large and swanky hotel near here starting out cleaning the hotel’s rooms. Rather than look only at academic skills, what happens if you look at the total picture of your son? What do you see beside academic skills or the lack of them that he can bring to the workplace?

Good luck.

To the original person who asked if anyone has an LD and a successful job, I’d like to tell you about my husband David. He’s 42, and has severe developmental language disorder/language learning disabilities. He can’t write more than his name and address, and can barely do simple math calculations. He reads only by sight recognition and only at a grade 2 level. He speaks and comprehends verbal information at the level of a six year old. NO ONE would hire him because he couldn’t even fill out an application or successfully conduct himself in a job interview without assistance from myself or a really good job coach. NO ONE would hire him because he didn’t have a grade 12 diploma, much less ANY high school credits to his name. (Special Ed will do that to you, especially in the 1970’s.)

To make a long story short, the problem doesn’t lie with your son, or with his learning disabilities, but rather in a society which is unprepared to look at people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses. My husband can re-wire an entire house but can’t remember anyone’s last name. He can drive a forklift and move around a warehouse like he owns the place, but he can’t tell me what 100 - 7 is.

You as his mother must continue to advocate for your son no matter what anyone says about you. (I’ve been called many things in my life by many people because I am quite aggressive in my advocacy work for my husband.) You might have an easier time because you are his mother.

Anyway, my husband was on disability his whole life, basically working under the table for friends or working at gas stations and restaurants. He never believed he could get a “real job” doing what he really wanted, and no one in his life at the time ever encouraged him to do so either. When I met him, I asked him what he could do, and what he wanted to do. He said he wanted to be an electrician and that he had skills in that area. He also worked in many factories and wanted to drive the forklift, but the bosses wouldn’t let him try it because they thought he wouldn’t be able to navigate within the warehouse or figure out how to read/interpret the order sheets.

Because of my support in his job search, and his strong desire to work, my husband now works at a brewery as a shipper/receiver. He drives the forklift and is responsible for many goings-on at the warehouse. He can read the order sheets because he uses the SKU numbers to identify the products that he’s looking for. He needed lots of accomodations during the hiring and training process, but now needs no support to maintain his employment. The employer took a chance and look what they got - the hardest working guy around. He also does his electrical work on the side on weekends. He is not, nor will ever be a “real” electrician, but can successfully do household wiring without assistance. He has his own little business with lots of happy clients.

HR departments take notice! People with even the most severe learning disabilities can succeed despite their academic difficulties. They need support and understanding, and most of all a chance to prove their worth!

Good luck to you and your son!

To the Veggie Soup Mom:

Do not by any means let your son achieve any less than he is capable of!! As an adult with an LD I have struggled my way through school. As a child, my passion was science. I was fascinated! But by the time high school rolled around, I failed chemistry and scraped by math each year. While I could understand the concepts, I had no ability to work through the problems and math side. Teachers weren’t very understanding. There were many tears shed.

I receieved excellent accomodations in Univeristy and graduated with a BA in Media, and a Minor in Business Admin. I nearly failed accounting and finance. BUT, I passed. And since entering the work world, not a single employer has asked for my grades! And I am very proud of my D- in finance! It means I almost passed!

Bored and frustrated with my media career, I faced my fears and took a course in science to help me break into the pharmaceutical industry. I studied every moment I had and got my certificate. Now I am thrilled to be talking with doctors all day about the products I rep. I love sales, love people and love science. My employer doesn’t ask me to do science, but sell it! And yes, I make a comfortable salary, with many benefits.

Your son definately has a chance to launch a solid career. What you need to do is encourage him, foster his abilities (mine are people skills) and help him follow what captures him. If I would have listened to all those people who wrote me off, I would not be where I am today. Focus on ability, demand nothing but the highest level of accomodations and understanding from educators and believe in him.

It seems alot of famous LDers throughout history sort of created their own jobs. Edison, Churchill, and Einstien come to mind.

I wonder about the LDers who have spen their lives under-employed

I also wonder about the Lder who walks into his state vocational rehab agency and goes beserk :evil:

I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet :?

I wonder about the LDers who have spen their lives under-employed

I also wonder about the Lder who walks into his state vocational rehab agency and goes beserk :evil:

I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet :?[/quote]
—

I once read a statistic that a large percentage of prison inmates are LDers (something like 1 in 3). You’re right about going beserk - I think it happens every day.

If you’ve seen the PBS documentary Misunderstood Minds, there is a teen who ended up in Juvi Hall. It was there that he finally accessed the best education for him b/c the courses were taught for all these LDers.

It’s a sad situation when the best LD ed is behind bars.

your son might want to consider starting his own business.
i am a person with a couple different ld’s, and i have worked a number of regular jobs like your son got. for the time being, it isnt a bad idea to work jobs like that for the fact that they require very little thinking communication, and stress. they allow you to support yourself while concentrating your energy twords real goals that can make you real money. “real” jobs, like the ones you go broke for studying in school, can take up alot of time and energy on something that you might not be interested in for the rest of your life. this energy could be better focused on starting a trade with something that you truely enjoy, and are good at.
plus, people with learning disorders tend to have problems fitting inbetween the lines. if your son had his own thing going, it would give him the freedom to decide what works for him, instaead of fitting in to some employers schedual

Just as the subject line says- I have given up.

Save for the brief periods I was working as a home health care worker, and worked food service- I have largely been under employed…working low income jobs with no benefits, chances for advancement, or job security. I just turned 35 in May…and it has been this way since I graduated High School in 87. I’m just sick and tired of beating my head bloody…getting nowhere and spinning my wheels! I’ve pretty much given up on ever having what everyone normal has- a good job, benefits,money in the bank, insurance and all that good stuff! I’ve pretty much accepted that I’m either always going to be the one that has fallen throught the cracks of the system, the one that will always struggle to keep a job and roof over my head…or a homeless bit of trash on the street…one of the ones that got thrown away. Just like I’ve pretty much accepted when my Dad either dies or goes into the care home, I’ll loose what little I have in terms of personal belongings- more than likely, my stepsisters will come in and pull what they did to their step mother when their Dad died…pretty much tried to take everything their father had….and succeeded. You ask why? Well, I learned the hard way the only ones that have any rights or legal recourse are those that can afford legal representation…(I’ve heard of too many cases here in Kansas where if you can’t afford an attorney, the judge throws you in jail for contempt. Forget about legal aid- it’s a joke…the retainer fee they ask for their services is usually beyond the reach of those in need of their services.) -SO, what’s the use….just cut my losses and just walk away- and do the due….or as they say in Oklahoma- I’ll have to just root hog and die….and get over it!
Genita

I am a high functioning learning disabled person. I am one who walked the streets knocking on doors of businesses looking for a decent job. Nothing. I sent out thousands upon thousands of resumes, went to every job fair in town, and also applied for all State and Federal jobs that were open. Nothing. I got a ton of negative responses, but not one interview or even a glimpse of hope for even a filled out application that they asked me to complete.

I now work in a warehouse. It is a lousy job. I am made fun of because I am a slow learner, and have a horrible short term memory. I live paycheck to paycheck. I worry about my future. I worry about ending up in a state run home as I age (I am 40 now). I worry about keeping my job. I am always written up for mistakes I make (which tend to be mathematical in nature). Yep, my company knows I am handicapped, but what do they care. They want someone who can do a job right the first time. They are looking at ways to fire me. It isn’t the first time it has happened either. It happens all the time. I am used to the rejection.

It is just ashame that the Federal and State Laws are not strong or supportive enough to help folks like us have decent paying jobs with benefits, and allow us some leaway for making mistakes without the threats of being fired.

I know my story is only one of a billion others. I try to have faith and hope, but at this point in my life, I just wonder when God will hear my prayers.

I know you have probably tried this, but are there employment agencies in your area designed to help people with specific disabilities get jobs that fit them, and provide things like job coaches to help over the rough spots?

It really s*cks knowing that in some ways, if the job were *harder* you could do better at it — but since you mess up teh “simple” stuff, nobody will trust you with it…

<<[quote=”Sue”]I know you have probably tried this, but are there employment agencies in your area designed to help people with specific disabilities get jobs that fit them, and provide things like job coaches to help over the rough spots?>

Sue,

I live in a big metropolitan area and the answer is a big no. When I specifically asked for assistance in coming up with suitable careers, the response I received was to attend a weekly job hunting club which I knew was totally useless. I was so mad I emailed my counselor and told her that suggesting to an NLDer that he/she could learn about careers at this type of club was equivelent to telling Stevie Wonder to read printed material.

So I settled for a teaching assistant goal even though I really wasn’t happy with that. But I thought at least, this should be doable. The only interview I had was for a position working at a school for kids with mental retardation. Not to put that population down but it would have involved all the visual spatial skills that I told the job developer I had trouble with.

When I went to a partner organization of the one stop centers that serve people with disabilities, all this counselor did was call up ads on the internet. Geez, great use of tax dollars, huh? I was so angry.

Fortunately, I have enough skills to get temp assignments and actually do well on them. I have also gone out on interviews for other positions.

Back to voc rehab - the problem is that they get evaluated on how many cases they close. So they don’t get paid to worry about whether the job they are placing you in actually has a future and takes advantage of your skills. Until that mentality is rooted out, I fear we will continue to hear the horror stories we are hearing.

PT

Bummer, aargh and rending of hair. Here it’s a big enough town so that there’s funding for the orgs — but it’s not “major metropolitan” so you’re not a case number. I’m sure it’s far from perfect — but they actually ask the question “okay, this is on our menu, but will it work for this person?” and try to think of thigns that actually will.
Time to get on the cutting edge and figure out how to get people with good strengths but genuine disabilities on a track for success. With the huge rise in autism and related stuff, it’s going to have a huge market. If I were an investing soul…

I am a human resources manager with ld. I was diagnosed as an adult and was just starting out. I think my not knowing of the ld worked to my advantage in that I had no notions of it holding me back. Instead, I assumed that I just was not too smart.

I then got into a job situation after diagnosis. I was fortunate to have a boss who not only, understood employment law, but was happy to accommodate me as much as possible. What a relief to be able to give her my written work proofing spelling and such, and not have to come up with lame excuses for errors. That is when my career soared.

I realize that I am so fortunate and lucky. But I just wanted to share a positive employment experience.

nice to have this topic back. It would also be nice to have a few more people chime in on here :? Its interesting to me to see how many people out there have these type of problems like I do(I sometimes think I’m alone with my LD/ADD). I WISH I could find a job I enjoy. I’m almost 35 and haven’t had luck in any career I have choosen..laid off from Internet/Sotware type of jobs, couldn’t find a decent job for close to 2 years, etc…I don’t know about other people here but I get frustrated as HELL sometimes(I have the firery temper that some ADD people acquire!)..I just started a job a few weeks ago(first full time job in 2 years!!!) and bascially very much dislike it……..for the previous poster, glad to see you are succeding in your HR job..bascially, I believe i have to run my own bussiness..cause i hate working for other people and ‘obeying’ the ‘rules’ that exist at all companies. Anyone else want to vent :?: :wink:

After reading all these posts I am reminded of this:

Dear God,
hope you got the letter, and…
I pray you can make it better down here.
I don’t mean a big reduction in the price of beer
but all the people that you made in your image, see
them starving on their feet ‘cause they don’t get
enough to eat from God, I can’t believe in you

Dear God, sorry to disturb you, but… I feel that I should be heard
loud and clear. We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
and all the people that you made in your image, see them fighting
in the street ‘cause they can’t make opinions meet about God,
I can’t believe in you

Did you make disease, and the diamond blue? Did you make
mankind after we made you? And the devil too!

Dear God, don’t know if you noticed, but… your name is on
a lot of quotes in this book, and us crazy humans wrote it, you
should take a look, and all the people that you made in your
image still believing that junk is true. Well I know it ain’t, and
so do you, dear God, I can’t believe in I don’t believe in

I won’t believe in heaven and hell. No saints, no sinners, no
devil as well. No pearly gates, no thorny crown. You’re always
letting us humans down. The wars you bring, the babes you
drown. Those lost at sea and never found, and it’s the same the
whole world ‘round. The hurt I see helps to compound that
Father, Son and Holy Ghost is just somebody’s unholy hoax,
and if you’re up there you’d perceive that my heart’s here upon
my sleeve. If there’s one thing I don’t believe in

it’s you… Dear God.

—XTC [Skylarking 1986]

Which is why I don’t believe in myths..

wow, that was a very odd message(to the last poster from pg. 4)! don’t really know what to say. :? other opinions :?:

…February 25, 2004; Ash Wednesday; 11:16AM Eastern Time…

Hello, Everyone:

I have some news, bear with me, because I am crying.
First, I really apprecciate all your comments I see in this
LD Online—Sections Adults with LD; Post-secondary Education and
Social Skills.

~~~~~

My employment status at Kean University has changed from
Student Aide Assistant to Academic Support Specialist, with
an increase in pay just under $11.00 hour. I can only work
20 hours a week though. It was only a question of semesters,
when it was discovered I was not a student. I have good bosses,
I work for 9 professors; 2 are co-chairpersons of the department.
http://www.kean.edu/~cahss/acad_dept/poli_sci.html .
Dr. Charles Kelly and Dr. Howard Rubin.

Sometimes the office is too noisy and loud, and the professors
don’t do enough of their own computer work. But,
I cope–I’ll bring in stereo headphones and CD’s and listen
to classical music as I work. Asking for more and clear
communication; writing notes; making phone calls for
clarification helps a great deal. Also, meet one-on-one with
people you deal with; and don’t postpone too long, the
confrontation.

I have a Dysgraphia LD history, and some Depression too.
I get into a habit, when photo-copying – I put the number of
copies needed on the back-right corner of the original document
that needs copied ( or the secretary or professor does it for me);
or we write it ( along with with requestors name ) on a post-it
note. When I photocopy a test, I put the original in a file-folder
so I remember to return every test to my professor(s).
I don’t hesitate to forward calls to full time professors, to their
voicemail (saves me writing ). I take messages for Adjunct
(part-time professors), and ask the other person not to rush me;
give me more time, repeat the message and phone number.
I also ask ( student ) if they have an email address.
If I won’t see the professor for a few days, I will myself email the
phone message.

My former case-worker at New Jersey Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation Services has resigned, but I am in touch with
her replacement. Hint: If you help yourself, and you find a
worker ( wherever office ) that helps you learn how to
be self-suffient, LET THAT WORKERS BOSS KNOW! In that way,
you might get MORE HELP and assistance, to quicken your progress!
;-) . Has worked for me at times! I let the NJ-DVRS Manager know
I missed my former case-worker. He sent me a note back, and
gave me the name of my new worker. How is that?

Be polite and civil and the job, and you will get good references
when you need them.

I am sad about my life a bit; death anniversery’s coming up
near the Easter time and I don’t see my family as often as I like.
Everyone is spread out. Emails and phone calls help.

I wish you all the best; and thanks for your support.
(( hugs to those who want one ))

Yours,

Hi, Joe.

I don’t post much but I read all you write. I am sorry for the employment change. Hang in there.

(((Hugs back to you)))

Barb

3 cheers for Joe. But jeers for all the agencies that don’t help. Joe’s situation is so rare. A few decent and enlightened people came together and gave him the break that he deserves.

What happens when Joe loses his job or want to advance? Will the decent enlightened people be there?

If I am raining on your parade it is only because my parade never even got started. There are not a lot of permits issued for LD adults.

I cried so much yesterday that I was in a puddle :cry: . My experiences have been so different from you…..yet very similar. I always realized and was told that I was smart I did relatively well in school overall: I was great at math but I loathed writing, couldn’t follow instructions well. I think I figured and deducted enough of my own to do well even though I always felt that when I got my tests back that I knew 75% of the wrong answers.
People: teachers and family alike told me that I was lazy and that even though I was a good student…. I did not live up to my potentials.
I could not never have imagined that I had a learning disability. I went to College and graduated in Engineering I loss my 2nd job after 6yrs because I could no longer do it. Things were getting worse with my organizational skills, priority setting, timeline, lack of reports. I then decided to have a family and stayed home for 8 yrs. In that time I just deteriorated I was and still hold the title of worst housekeeper in history in addition to being chronicly late for everything. But when my youngest went to school I started working part-time last year. After 1yr and 5 days I was let go. In my evaluation there were 2 issues: need to improve the appearance of my area and Lack of Productivity. Yesterday when I listened to the Myth of Laziness by Mel Levine I felt like he had followed me at a distance and was talking about my lifelong struggle. I am the Sharon in the book. I am very enthousiatic about getting things right but give me 2 weeks and it turns to sh*&^%. I have 3 bright young daughters and I don’t want them to be like their mom in that way. So to go back to the initial question yes you can get a high paying job but the struggles remain the same if you don’t have the self knowledge and the support to stir you away from your natural tendencies. I am still in chock over the fact that this was undetected for almost 41 yrs. I need to find ressources that either addresses high functioning or gifted adults.

To be continued….

I am an adult with ld and adhd. i am 45 years old, I have a very good job but had to work very hard to get there. i have a masters in reading now. I started back to school when my second child was born, I was reading on a low 3rd grade level and my math skills were on the 2nd grade level.
I know what you mean when you talk about your son not getting the same information as everyone else. i had to take a full year of remedial classes just to start my basics. I will talk more later.
Jeanniesplace

I am 23 and I have an LD. I have found a good job. I work in a call center so most of the work I do is all verbal. I have found things that help me out. MY math skills are quite low but if I use a calculater I can manage. What I do is place oders in the systmes so that ppl can revice cell phones. I like this job because I am not writting reports and if I need any information from a customer I get them to spell it. IE name, or address….

I did not think I would find some thing that I could do… but I did and I like where I am. It is very posible that your son will find some thing too!
If he is determand then he can do it too!
:D

I have being living with a learning disable all my life. I have problems with reading, writing and math but not limited too. All though grade, middle and high school I was in special education or remedially classes. In order for me to go to college I had to take an Intelligence Test because I did so poorly on my SAT with help. I manage to make into and out of college with several degrees (Dean College AA ’90, Fashion Institute of Technology AAS ’93, MCC AA’01 and Charter Oak State College BA ‘03).

Yes, with all this education I still have a learning disable. Let face it, avoiding the difficult traits are not always a great idea. I have been though my share of jobs. My last job prior to my current one was horrible. I was a client service rep in a call center for a payroll company for 2 yrs, need I say more; it required skills I didn’t possess or weren’t developed enough. I made it 2 yrs so I couldn’t have been that bad plus it help me finish my BA.

I have been working for a computer company. It is a huge improvement from my last job. I still have hard times. They are flexible with the hours I work; that is a good thing because I am repeatedly late. This is nothing new for me; unfortunately I have a hard time getting organized. The datelines with projects are not so bad or urgent. The only draw back is that it is a very small company but because of that, it has given me the opportunity for more responsibles.

I would suggest encouraging your son as much as possible and avoiding being the slight bit negative. It wouldn’t help you and it certainly wouldn’t help him with self-esteem. Our reality is much more critical then you may think, trust me. We don’t forget that have a learning disable.

Best of Luck

:D Bless you parent for caring. You sound like you are in a turmoil over this diagnosis which is probably what most of us are in when we learn that we are dealing with something new to us. I have LD and other things, I am an adult. I was not given that help as a youth. I had to wait until my whole life got messed up first. So your son will work through this ok. He will have more support and that beautiful drive to we have will kick in when he is sure of himself more. He is so lucky. My family does not understand. My kids, yes now I have kids, understand, in fact my one daughter is also LD and thanks to all the things today to help she is a state worker with great job, loves it, has all the freedoms to learn, go to college etc. and support when she needs it for LD to make it all work better. :)