I told you I had a training session yesterday and today. Yesterday, the facilitator pulled me aside and asked why I looked so disengaged (I wasn't, even if I looked it). Then today, in front of everyone, she turned to me and told me to close my laptop and show some respect. When she said that, I was fuming inside.
In the 21st century, people need to know that people learn differently! I was so hurt and upset by her comment.
At break time, I met with the program co-ordinator, and I told her that I was neurodiverse and that I learn differently to others. For me, I need to be doing something so that I don't get overstimulated by the lights, sounds and glare in the room. She understood, and I think she spoke to the facilitator.
So in the next session, she went over "Barriers to learning" and asked me to speak about my barriers to learning. I gave her my personal story that all my life, as a child, people thought I was stupid and I was a brick because there didn't seem to be anything registering in my brain.
I shared that people set very low expectations of me and never thought I'd amount to anything. However, when I got the chance to learn in the way I learn best (fidget, play with things, look lost), I absorb everything, even if I don't look like I am.
I emphasised that we don't all learn in the same way, and just because I don't look like I'm listening, it doesn't mean I'm not!
So from there, the faciliatator changed her tune.
I'm glad I had the chance to speak about neurodiversity.
I'm thinking of emailing the facilitator later (maybe tomorrow)... @Captain24
Yeah... so that's my vent...I was the 'dumb' kid in class that would never amount to anything....