Numbers never made sense to Michelle. She would struggle to follow the steps in a math problem, could not tell time from the face of a clock and could not memorize her multiplication tables. At an early age she was diagnosed as having a learning disability, eventually identified as dyscalculia. This is a condition in which the brain is not wired to process numbers, making it extremely difficult to learn math.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Michelle describes what living with dyscalculia is like while also recounting the challenges of growing up with a little known and poorly understood learning disability. Many aspects of adult life depend on numbers, such as grocery shopping, budgeting, driving and more. All of these activities present unique challenges for Michelle, but over the years she has developed coping mechanisms and adaptations to get by. She has also been diagnosed with visual perception issues and limited hand dexterity. As she puts it, “My brain is just wired differently. So there’s just certain things that I can’t do, or I need to find a different way to do them.”

Growing up with dyscalculia was difficult in many ways. Michelle was bullied throughout school, mocked for her inability to learn math, told she wasn’t smart and assured she would never graduate college. Although Michelle’s intelligence manifested in many other ways (including her passion for writing), there were still times when the relentless bullying made her feel hopeless. However, Michelle eventually proved her detractors wrong by graduating college and becoming a published writer, as well as becoming a paraeducator to help the next generation of children with learning disabilities to flourish. In this podcast interview she shares tips for navigating the world with dyscalculia, discusses the importance of disability accommodations and helps spread awareness of her learning disability.

Check out Michelle’s writing, photography and more on her website: https://www.mrsmichellesmission.com/

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