Learning Disabled Adults Achieve Success-Proven Methodology

By Jon Van Loon

Have you attained adulthood and wondered why you possessed traits that made it difficult during your formative and vocational years to learn by conventional methods? You might have an undiagnosed learning disability. This book is uniquely different from most others, it having been written by an actual person who has a severe learning disability. Despite my problems I have developed special strategies that allowed me to achieve high level academic and professional success. Like you the reader, I have faced unique personal, schooling and vocational difficulties daily and hence can provide a different dimension of material compared to most non learning disabled experts. The phrase ‘Learning Disabled’ is used in this book title only because it is the standard and familiar designation relating to those of us who have experienced difficulties learning in the conventional manner. This phrase has become the moniker of choice for anyone that has demonstrated visual and/or auditory memory and other problems identified as being associated with the conventional learning process. Another common but now less utilized term for those of us in this category is ‘Dyslexia’. This latter term used for many years after the discovery by Orton in 1937 of these problems, actually roughly translates as reading blindness and hence covers only a fraction of the discipline. Rather than use terms that have a negative and often in the minds of the general public derogatory connotations, I prefer to call us ‘Special Learners’. Thus I have opted wherever possible to designate those of us known publically as Learning Disabled in this book as Special Learners or as being Learning Challenged, terms I have justified in earlier eBooks on this subject that were geared mainly for those of student age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jon Van Loon
• Release date: Sep 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301367252

Jon Van Loon

My life has been complicated by 3 factors. A severe learning disability and a bipolar condition could have easily doomed me to a troubled, non productive existence. However a prodigious unrelenting manic drive was the burr under my saddle that propelled me to unexpected achievement in academia. Of interest here in this regard was that developments in my laboratory at the University of Toronto lead me to opportunities to work, teach and live for short periods in many locations on the 6 continents over a 25 year period. During these intervals, I chose to live in local category accommodation thus maximizing my exposure and participation in parochial experiences. In contrast to the calamitous relationships dogging present world interrelationships my experiences were entirely welcoming and solicitous.I was born in Hamilton Ontario Canada. My interests include jogging and other fitness programs having run in and completed 4 marathons together with numerous 5, 10 and 20 km events. My prowess in sport to say the least was very average. Non-the-less I participated in and then later coached ice hockey both in Canada and Australia. My reward for all this activity is that I have a healthy cardiovascular system and have endured 3 knee replacement operations. Most particularly I have a passion for work related to environmental concerns. In this regard I have 120 peer reviewed research papers in Environmental Chemistry, one of which nearly landing me in jail.

Book preview

Learning Disabled Adults Achieve Success-Proven Methodology

By Jon Van Loon

Copyright Jon Van Loon 2013

Smashwords Edition

Forward

This Book is unique from comparable offerings since the writer is actually a learning disabled adult, a science professor

Why have I written this book after having already published 2 successful eBooks on Learning disabilities? I discovered that these already published volumes were acutely slanted to youth and the learning and related problems incurred during life through classroom stages ending in the late teens, early 20’s. Adult’s who chose to read my already published books often because one or more of their progeny were diagnosed as leaning disabled, contacted me to query whether their own problems might also be related to having a learning disability. Yes learning disabilities are often hereditary. Thus this present book originated.

As stated this book is uniquely different from most others, it having been written by an actual person who has a severe learning disability. Not only that but despite my problems I have developed strategies such that I achieved high level academic and professional success. Like you I have dealt with typical problems daily from youth through adulthood and hence provide a superior dimension unavailable to those trained experts in the field who have never lived this scenario.

Most importantly please note that the structure of this volume for special learner adults is unusual. I have inserted much relevant material from my former books altered where necessary so that it relates to adults with learning challenges. Additionally I weave in stories often from other venues that are useful in building on the themes that constitute the fabric of my arguments.

Have you attained adulthood and wondered why you possessed traits that made it difficult during your formative and vocational years to learn by conventional methods? You might have an undiagnosed learning disability.

Despite these problems many who are thus burdened have obtained tertiary degrees or other degrees and diplomas and then gone on to be successes in professional life. Others with these difficulties may have abandon education at some stage along the way but still have gone on to have highly successful professional lives. Many adults suffering with learning difficulties and related problems are daily engaged in a struggle just to combat their routine difficulties and retain motivation at home, work and to interact in society. This book is for all of you.

The phrase ‘Learning Disabled’ is used in this book title only because it is the standard and familiar designation relating to those of us who have experienced difficulties learning in the conventional manner. This phrase has become the moniker of choice for anyone that has demonstrated visual and/or auditory memory and other problems identified as being associated with the conventional learning process. Another common but now less utilized term for those of us in this category is ‘Dyslexia’. This latter term used for many years after the discovery by Orton in 1937 of these problems, actually roughly translates as reading blindness and hence covers only a fraction of the discipline. Rather than use terms that have a negative and often in the minds of the general public derogatory connotations, I prefer to call us ‘Special Learners’. Thus I have opted wherever possible to designate those of us known publically as Learning Disabled in this book as Special Learners or having Learning Challenges, terms I have justified in earlier eBooks on this subject that were geared mainly for those of student age. I particularly like these terms in referring to adults with such difficulties since many have devised either knowingly or unknowingly special strategies for learning and have as already mentioned, become well educated and career successful.

The reader will have noted the term ‘us’ as used above. At the age of 44 I was tested and found to have profound learning problems that were then called learning disabilities. Thus for reference purposes and to justify my qualifications to write a book with the phrase ‘proven method’ contained therein here is an account of my status as a special learner.

Despite all the bravado expressed below I went through significant stages of my life in which I truly hated myself. I blamed myself for having all these atypical problems that set me apart from most of the rest of the crowd. Even after I was tested and found to be learning disabled these feelings still crop up.

Early evidence that I was unusual was a low IQ measurement (96), made letter and number reversals, had poor reading retention together with serious spelling problems, messy hand writing-actually I have to script in printing as I cannot write-trouble concentrating, have poor social skills and yet a higher level of achievement in other ways. These traits although not unique, were a mixture that is included within a larger list of disorders that type Learning Disabilities.

The phrase learning disability includes other learning related problems, just as significant as reading difficulties (dyslexia). In my own case but after struggling to achieve a PhD and Tenured Professorial position at the University of Toronto, I was tested and found to have a 40th percentile visual memory and a 60th percentile auditory memory. The result was/is that I cannot remember material read in the normal way and my spelling, grammar and syntax are all at a Grade 9 level. Computers have become the accepted and virtually the only means of realizing written communication and I am able only to type with one finger. Even then I often spend several second intervals trying to locate the next desired letter on the keyboard. Additionally I spell phonetically and can't often tell when a letter should be double or single, eg. familly or family. Strangely after I find a letter on the keyboard I frequently hit the adjacent one or leave out a letters entirely. A particular frustrating and sometimes fatal (in math calculations) ramification is my preponderance to letter and number reversal. When I look at my work using Microsoft Word and see the ubiquitous misspellings, boldly defined by a red underscore I employ Spell Check. Sometimes this tool is unable to provide any assistance because of my weird phonetic conception of word letter sequencing and composition. A good example of this is when I tried to spell seizures which I typed as caesures, phonetically. Spell Check was of no assistance. Then Hey Maureen, how do you spell caesures, then rings loudly down the hall to my wife’s room. Always undiscovered by the digital aids Incorporated in word processors is my frequent unjustified and mystifying use of capital letters at the beginning of a word in the middle of a sentence. The Mind is a strange entity because I have achieved a reasonable vocabulary (memory phenomenon). However I must admit this is augmented frequently, by the word processor thesaurus provided by the phenomenal free software Clever Keys. I also have weird memories from bygone times, like a blade of grass sticking up through the snow in a field from my childhood. Yet I have no memory of ever being kissed by my doting mother.

Simply as a means to provide verification that I am a successful writer despite my disabilities and hence qualified to write a valid book that could be useful to other learning disabled adults, I cite the following as examples. My research some years ago as a Full Professor at the University of Toronto resulted in the invention of 2 unique devices (detectors for chromatography) for use in environmental and clinical work. Also I am the author or co-author of 7 research text books in my field that were peer reviewed and printed by major publishers. Of course with the rapid advances in research today all this and a couple of dollars might today get me a latte at Starbucks.

Complicating my life as a special learner I am Bipolar, (Manic Depressive- as it once was more descriptively termed). It is not uncommon to have multiple disabilities. Again this was not definitively discovered until my 40's. Prior to that epiphany I was treated with high doses of the drug, Valium. Sometimes even injection doses were required when I was from time to time admitted to Mental Wards. This occurred when suicidal tendencies erupted during instances of extreme frustration.

As a point of interest I have written a free eBook on this mental/emotional challenge. There is something in this book that might intrigue the present reader and that is how I used the manic periods in which I most commonly reside to propel me further towards my goals. This book entitled Bipolar Dash to Accomplishment-A Challenge downloadable free from smaswords.com or from most e-Reader stores.

Introduction

Many stories exist where handicapped people have excelled in adult life and I salute these, but I believe that many more could. In fact it is my view that a handicap can actually be a stimulant to encourage a performance in life that will be well above average. When a person is presented with the realization that they have a built in, intellectual, physical or mental impediment one of two things can occur, either resignation to some supposed limitations will be made, or a toughness and strength of determination to succeed can by activated. My strong conviction is that the latter could and should more commonly be the case.

By telling my own sometimes, bittersweet, mostly driven, often amusing, (the manuscript is peppered with amusing stories from my life) nonlinear, story and views, I want to demonstrate that even the most seemingly unachievable goals are not only attainable but can often be exceeded. That is not by any means to belittle a disability or to suggest that handicaps won't frequently lead to dismay. That was why I used the term nonlinear to describe aspects of my own promised tale. Why should I dare to compose such a compendium considering the thousands of other successful disabled people in this world? Perhaps it is because I feel a little unique in that I have more writing experience than most. As will be seen, the mere fact that I am able to write is the attaining of a goal which many who have been likewise sideswiped by a disability could not do.

In attempting such a presentation it is important as I have above, to dispose of the facts of my disability in a fast, efficient, manner in order to achieve a quick run to the convictions, goals and motivational stories. However the trademarks of my problems will sometimes have to reappear scattered among the mainly upbeat message in the following chapters. Herein will contain tales emanating from my life in Canada and while working and living in fascinating and often challenging jurisdictions encompassing all the worlds Continents except Antarctica.

The material herein should also be of interest to anyone who enjoys a tale of a good struggle with life and the laughs, sorrows and adventures that are bound to occur. There is also plenty of interest for people who have a curiosity about the type of world we inhabit both relating to its citizens, the environment and the biosphere as it exists now and during the periods of my visits abroad as well as my research-based views on our future.

It is probably important to admit from the beginning that I am a scientist, but one who enjoyed as much of the other aspects of life as he could. Thus my mind was not only centered on theories, research and their application pertaining to the world’s betterment but also on the fascinating peoples, events and nature as this kaleidoscopic scenery moved from position to position. As I write I am 76 years of age and have many of the problems that aging entails, none of which is worth enumerating in detail. Suffice it to say that that like many of my lofty age I imagine that my present appearance and physical abilities are much as they were in my 50's until I have the misfortune to look at a recent photo, catch sight of myself in the mirror or try to climb a few flights of stairs.

Multiple Disabilities

Such are not uncommon. Thus the reader should be certain that the learning challenge she/he has outlined does not contain factors relating to another disability

This is a very personal example of a factor important to my success. You may or may not need some medical assistance for other conditions to aid your quest for high level achievement.

Throughout my life I had periods where purchases of a single type of item became an obsession, so much so that I would find myself with countless objects of the same identity among my possessions. As a youngster electronic equipment scattered my room, from which radios of different types emerged. In those days electronics consisted of high voltage components in circuits with high current flow so I was fortunate that I did not electrocute myself in ignorance. In later years I acquired sick short wave radios for next to nothing and spent hours in their repair. For a while I bought dozens of coats. Then sweaters became the item of choice. At one time I discovered I had 50 pet birds in aviaries in the basement. Most of these were Australian parrots and finches. Next