In other words...she could not read. While I accelerated in the classroom, I watched her struggle to understand why she continued to fail at a skill that seemed so natural to those around her. Every day she fought the urge to feel inadequate. Going to school became a struggle both mentally and emotionally for her.
While unable to read a clock, her I.Q. scores fell far above average, proving her reading skills were no reflection of her mental capacity. This made sense, as she was smarter than anyone I knew. She understood everything and constantly yearned to learn. Reading was simply a skill she was not programmed with; she could not process the words just as some cannot roll their tongue. It did not mean she could not learn or understand, she just had to do so differently than her peers.
My sister became determined not to let her disability become a barrier in her life. Virginia graduated high school with full honors and in all honors classes, and went on to graduate college with a major and two minors, one in art history. All the while, she read more books in those years than most people do in a lifetime. Today, when I face a challenge, I think of her; all the people she had to prove wrong and all the self doubt she had to overcome. Such strength in the face of such doubt lets me know I can be strong like her. Nothing is impossible. She overcame the odds of what is expected of a person with disabilities.
My sister's story has found a happy ending today, but this is not yet true of everyone in my family. My brother Peter began his life with epilepsy. A grand mal seizure left him with Landau Kleffner Syndrome, a disease similar in symptoms to autism though not
diagnosable as such. His brain was wiped clean, and he had to start life over. At age 18, his mental capacity better reflects that of age 14. His vague diagnosis makes it difficult for Peter to receive proper aid in school. Peter is still developing social skills, and struggles every day with being teased and mocked for his behavior. So much so, that we have seen his spirit broken completely at times. Already struggling to perform basic life functions, like hold a job or or count money, this negativity in his world makes it even harder to assimilate into his community. We now fight for Peter, that he will find a place of acceptance and success in life.
Peter is not alone. So many fight the same battle.
The world measures success too often on the caliber of one’s job or the value of their estate. True value lies not in these things, but in the richness of one’s heart and mind. When our communities come to understand and support our neighbors with disabilities, we help them find their role in improving and connecting with the world. Education and an open mind are the ingredients, and a stronger community is the result.
Love & Sunshine,
- Kaitlin
A disability is defined as the lack of an ability relative to a group of people or standard. As a child, my sister, Virginia was diagnosed with dyslexia. She lacked the ability to process symbols.
