“What is it like living with learning disabilities?” some of you might be asking.

Do I wish I were any different?

Do I complain about why I have these difficulties learning?

In all honesty, no... I don't.

I fully accept my learning disabilities. I always have.

Besides... what could I do about it anyway?

The thing that I have personally experienced and seen is the — dare I say — ignorance from others about learning disabilities.

Society has this certain way that it wants us as humans to be. As long as you follow, you should be OK.

However, if you are bold enough to stand out whether it is by choice or not, wow! Look out!

The word "disabilities" is almost considered to be profane.

Worse yet... like it's a contagious disease.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not using this commentary as a soapbox. No, no, no.

What I am hoping for is to give an idea of what it really is like for us.

When we first walk into a room, you wouldn't know it.

We don't have T-shirts made up. We don't have business cards. We don't wear name tags.

Why?

What's the point? We are just like everyone else.

I have never understood what the big deal is about somebody having learning disabilities. I mean, what is the big hairy deal?

So you may have to go into more detail about what you want done? So we may ask more questions? OK? What's wrong with that? You want the job done right, don't you?

Again, I am not going to use this newsletter as a soapbox, but I must confess that I just don't get it.

Why is the phrase "learning disability" and its other forms such a concern?

We didn't ask to be this way. This is how we were created.

There's nothing that can be done about it, so how about we find a way to work together?I guarantee you are not going to find harder-working people, I promise you.

I have had to deal with this personally. Right out of high school, I entered the workforce…Or tried to anyway.

Because I was vocal about my learning disabilities, hiring was nearly impossible.

I filled out so many applications, send out so many resumes and went on so many interviews... I could teach a class!

In the end, though ...all I got was a couple of internships with the possibilities of being hired but I never was.

After several years, I had enough. I had been volunteering at a local retirement community and had applied for a medical secretary position at the medical center.

I discovered that I was one of three final candidates for the position. We each did a two-week internship working with two other medical secretaries.

I felt so confident about this job because I was the only candidate who had a certification in medical secretarial work.

But…You guessed it.I wasn't hired.

Worse yet, I was lied to about it.

The two medical secretaries lied about my performance so that their friend — who was one of the final candidates — would get the job.

My heart went out to the other candidate. She was a single mother desperately wanting this job to provide better for her child. After that, I had decided to quit job searching.

I was tired of being made to feel bad about myself because I didn't fit into someone's stupid idea of the dream employee.

I had enough. I just simply had enough.

I thought if I was not good enough for them...then they were not good enough for me!Now I'm self-employed, working in the dog care field and that was the best decision I could ever make.

I think I am doing what I was called to do.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.