Persistence & Purpose: My Life with a Language Learning Disability

By Dominic Dimattina

Persistence & Purpose:

My Life with a Language Learning Disability

I have written this story of my life with a Language Learning Disability to share with parents, children & teachers. I hope it will be educational and through the real life stories show how I coped emotionally, physically and personally to get to the successful life I have today as an adult. Seventeen years ago my speech pathologist interviewed my mother about my life at school and my transition into the work force. These interviews gave new insights and ideas to help others and the speech pathologists used them to create more resources for parents and teachers working and living with people with a language learning disability

This book also gives you a perspective from both my experience and the experience of my parents. .The ups and downs, the important people and the time it has taken me to learn the skills I needed. My story has been the inspiration for the development of educational programs and resources for students with language learning difficulties. These resources are collated in One in 11: Practical Strategies for teaching Adolescents with a Language Learning Disabilityand in Working Together: Linking Skills and Curriculum for Adolescents with a Language Learning Disability (both published by ACER press Australia).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Sep 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483696119

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Dominic Dimattina.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2013916143

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4836-9610-2

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4836-9609-6

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4836-9611-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 09/10/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-800-455-039

www.xlibris.com.au

[e-mail]

503099

Contents

Acknowledgements

1.   Dream Come True

2.   The Hidden Handicap

3.   A Successful Working Life

4.   The Importance Of Social And Emotional Development

5.   Early Identification

6.   Primary School

7.   Transition Years And Secondary Schooling

8.   Parents’ Feelings, Hurts, And Frustrations

9.   Family History

10.   Professional Support

Recommendations

Book Summary

Who would have thought

that I was capable in putting a book like this together!

Never underestimate the power of the mind.

Believe within yourself that you can achieve!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to say a big thank you to three very important people who made this book possible.

Firstly my mother Grace Dimattina who was very committed throughout my life in doing her best with the resources she had in those years of my early childhood. It was Grace who knew I needed help and made sure I received it and put in hours of work to help me.

Secondly, I want to thank speech pathologists Florence Gough and Mandy Brent. Florence advised me and my mother while I was at school. Grace kept in touch with Florence once I had left primary school and told her about my progress, the impact of language learning disabilities in secondary school and in my transition to work and adult life. Over seventeen years ago, Florence interviewed my mother about my life experiences, and this information was used in talks to other professionals and provided the inspiration for the development of educational programs and resources for students with language learning difficulties. These resources were collated in One in 11: Practical Strategies for Adolescents with a Language Learning Difficulty and in Working Together: Linking Skills and Curriculum for Adolescents with a Language Learning Disability (both published by ACER press).

If it was not for the commitment and dedication of these three people, this book would not exist.

M y story of life with a language learning disability is a hopeful one that I want to share with you. I want to tell the story from my perspective and also include an interview with my mother about my early life. I want to inspire hope and understanding for parents and children and to change the ways professionals work with people like me who need so much more time and structure to achieve their potential. At the same time, I want to be honest about the impact of my disability on my personal, physical, and emotional development. It has not always been easy, either for me or my family.

My family are not wealthy people, but they never stopped believing in me and that I would achieve something with my life. They acknowledged my persistence and ability to work hard and supported me when I took longer to learn skills than other people of my age. It makes me sad and frustrated to see kids still suffering some of the same issues that I did and not be able to get over them. I want other kids with language learning disabilities to taste success that will motivate them. I have enjoyed being a mentor to young people with learning difficulties in my cafe. It brings a tear to my eye when I see their increased confidence. I know, given time, they can learn. That is why I put this book together.

I want to start with the good news—so I will start from where I am today as an adult.

DREAM COME TRUE

I am now 37 years old, and for the last six years, I have been a part owner of a cafe in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I have had a very supportive girlfriend throughout my journey in business. I have great leadership qualities that have impacted all my workers and customers; I am able to be a very successful mentor to those young teenagers with learning difficulties.

Dom’s timeline:

*planned my business (2007)

*started my business (May 2008 to February 2013)

*newspaper article (May 2010)

*talks to various education departments (2011–12 )

*start mentoring program

*awareness about my disability

*sharing my life experience with others

Acknowledging own language learning difficulty:

*impulsive nature

*impact on daily communication

*choose simple words when communicating

Will notice:

*loss of words

*getting tongue tied

*difficulty pronouncing words

Manage the Anxiety throughout Adulthood:

*Daily basic communication leads to daily anxiety.

*Understand how your mind and body reacts under high anxiety.

Example: For Me!

When multitasking in a high volume in hospitality, my body reacts:

*muscle tension

*light-headedness

*dry throat

Overcome My Anxiety:

*Reflect back on previous times I have successfully done this.

*Talk to self.

*Remember those successes.

*Body and mind snap back into action.

*Anxiety is settled.

Over several years, opportunities to open my own cafe came and went, but it was my dream, and I never gave up on it. I kept on persisting in my mind. Even with the rejections I received, I knew in my heart it would happen when the time was right.

I still work really hard on finances. I learned the finances, as a young adult, by surrounding myself with people who where good at managing