Eye to Eye: UC Davis Chapter

Hi my name is Bernice and I have a learning difference. Although I don’t notice my LD much in on a daily basis, it was hard for me to pay attention and read in class growing up. Getting diagnosed gave me a sense of relief because there was finally an explanation for my troubles. Even though learning to accommodate my challenges has been difficult, it’s dually fueled my drive and resilience as well. Ultimately, my LD adds to my unique personality and I’m grateful for this supportive community.

Hi, my name is Alyssa!

I was diagnosed with a Learning Difference at the age of six after having a speech impediment and communication problems. These are the first signs of having a learning difference. I quickly fell behind in my academia, but if it was not for my parents, I would still be behind and probably be ashamed of my LD today. My fabulous parents literally taught me to read and be interested and successful in the education system. Today, when I first meet people, the first thing they get to know about me is my learning difference because it is part of who I am and always will be.

Hi, my name is Taylor and I have a learning disability. For a long time before I was diagnosed, I knew that I learned in a different way than most of the people around me. At times I would be frustrated or embarrassed when everyone in my class had finished the reading in class, and I was still on the second page, having to re-read the same paragraph over and over again. When I was finally diagnosed, I didn’t feel ashamed, I actually felt a huge weight lifted off of me. Knowing that my brain worked differently allowed me to be more aware of certain things I struggled with, and helped me to accommodate them by approaching the issues in new ways. It also opened my eyes to new strengths that I had not previously acknowledged. I accredit my strange sense of humor and interest in so many different hobbies to my LD, and despite the struggles it has caused me in various situations, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Hey, My name is Alice.
I am proud of my LD because I have developed skills to cope with it that have helped me in many situations. When I was younger, it was hard for me to express what I wanted to say through writing because I misspell words. Because of this struggle, I recognized at a young age it is easier for me to talk to people. I realized that speech was a better mode of communication for me, which made me develop interpersonal communication skills. The communication practice I had as a child has helped me in interviews, classes, and friendships. I wouldn’t change anything about my LD.

Come join us at the involvement fair!!

I hope everyone had a great summer!
I wanted to share with everyone a little bit about a club on campus. Eye to Eye is national nonprofit organization that focuses on building self-advocacy and self-confidence within children with learning disabilities; like dyslexia, AD/HD, ect. We go every week, for one hour from 3:30-4:30 Wednesdays to a local middle school to mentor students with learning disabilities! It is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to a community that needs our support!

You can apply online to be a mentor online at https://eyetoeyenational.org/signup !

If you are interested in finding out more email us at [email protected], find us at the involvement fair, or message us through our page, Eye to Eye: UC Davis Chapter!

Hey! One of our lovely coordinators, Isabella Johnson from Eye to Eye hear at University of California, Davis has had the amazing opportunity of being interviewed for NPR.org Login 's All Things Considered and it’s set to broadcast today at 5:35pm PST! If you’re interested in hearing about learning disabilities, college or just curious, we would really appreciate it! You can also listen to a recorded version online after it airs at
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/14/703006521/why-the-college-admissions-scandal-hurts-students-with-disabilities

All Things Considered for March 14, 2019 Hear the All Things Considered program for March 14, 2019

For the last two years I’ve been posting pictures of other students with Learning Disabilities and having them share there stories, so I thought it was about time to share part of mine. My name is Isabella and I have Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, a visual processing disorder, an executive functioning disorder, and a tendency to hyper focus.

I remember the first time I realized I was different. It was third grade, and there was this ‘honors’ math class that both of my best friends were in. Honestly the honors part wasn’t important to me, but they got ten extra minutes of recess and were given candy. In third grade, that meant a lot. I went through that entire year thinking I wasn’t good enough, that my math skills simply weren’t up to par, but then I was diagnosed. I found out that the only reason I wasn’t in the class was because my teachers had advised my parents to hold me back, so that I could focus on reading. I had no clue what a Learning Disability was, but I knew that this thing I had been told I had wasn’t positive. All I knew after my diagnosis was that I was denied access to something I wanted.

Generally on a day-to-day basis, I don’t really notice that my LD is there. It’s just normal, like a tag that’s scratching you that you’ve gotten used to after a whole day of wearing a shirt. I notice it though when I ask a friend how to spell ‘because’ and they tell me the wrong spelling because they think it’s funny. Or when the testing center doesn’t have enough room, so I have to take my exam in a room where the light turns off every twenty minutes and during my final exam I have to get up and walk around the room to see my paper.

Being a student with a LD comes with many challenges, and many benefits. I know how to work hard to achieve something and I am far more stubborn that I ever would have been and humble enough to know I am only here because of all the support I have received. Now that I am thriving, I think the hardest part about LD’s is that no one knows you have one. No one will ever look at me and think I cant spell, but they will see my work and wonder ‘Is she stupid? I learned that word in third grade.. ‘

That’s why I think it’s so important to share our stories with all of you, so that our invisible disabilities can become a little more visible.

When I first got diagnosed with learning differences I thought they would prevent me from doing well in school. But, I have learned how to make them work to my advantage and so I could excel in my classes. I’ve become proactive about my education and doing what I need to succeed. I am now proud of my learning differences because they have taught me how to overcome many challenges, be better for it and not feel less intelligent than my classmates. They allow me to have a different perspective on the world have have given me a better understanding of how I learn best and how I can succeed in the world.
-Julia

I was diagnosed with ADD during my sophomore year of high school. Growing up, I was always placed in gifted classes and performed well on standardized tests. When I started to fall behind and perform poorly in middle school, I was told that I wasn’t trying hard enough or taking school seriously. In reality, I was struggling to stay on task even when I was determined and had set clear goals. I felt as though my potential was gone. When I was finally diagnosed with ADD, I was able to overcome my feelings of helplessness and failure through learning about my condition. Now, I am a successful student and I am proud to have made it to UC Davis despite my struggles. Although it is still difficult at times, I’ve successfully learned to cope and work through my challenges. I am especially grateful to share my personal experiences with students who are currently working through those same difficulties.
-Jessica

When I think about my Learning Disability, I think about how far I have come in my academic career and how proud I am of all the little and big successes it took to get here. But I simply cannot consider all my success without thinking of my mom. There are a lot of things in my life that would look very different if I didn’t have her support and love. Maybe I wouldn't get to walk through the our beautiful quad to my classes, maybe I would not have a passion for learning new things everyday, and maybe I would not even not be at the University of California, Davis.

Although there are so many things you can do to help students that learn differently, I think the most valuable to me, is having someone that believes in you, somedays, almost more than you believe in yourself.

Thank you Mom.

I remember sitting in the car with my dad, and he told me that I had Dyslexia. This label was confusing and unknown to me, I thought it signified some limit in my ability to succeed. However, I soon realized that the label gave me the skills to view the world from a different angle and to gain skills that would become assets to my success. The label opened a door up to me, to understand how I learn, and to put myself in the drives seat to success. -Ben