Another great book to pass on to educators is "The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. It isn't a book about comprehending and/or responding to NLD; it's a book about perceiving the goal of education from a different lens. I think it invites teachers (and administrators) to reflect (very meaningfully) about what they are doing, and what the ultimate goals of the education process are-for all learners. When they do that, they are able to "see" our children in a totally different way. I guess I'm saying: We can (and should) be giving educators literature/resources to further their knowledge construction processes (intrapersonally, collaboratively, etc) as a way to advocate for our children, and all children...but honing their awareness of a disability is still compartmentalized and we know (better than most) that everything is interconnected (pervasive).

@A MyAutismTeam Member, the two books I have found to be invaluable are: Nonverbal Learning Disabilities at School by Pamela B. Tanguay (it is actually helpful to buy extra copies and get it into the hands of any educator/administrator willing to be informed) and The Source for Nonverbal Learning Disorders by Sue Thompson, she is the expert in the field; it is a tough read in the sense of areas of projected bleak outcomes, but I have found it to be spot on in regards to our daughter. You are also fortunate to be in the New England area, as any NLD inclusive camps, schools, colleges, residential, seem to be located there.

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@A MyAutismTeam Member, daughter was fine academically through middle school due to her excellent rote memory (the tests were literally word for word the same as study guides), socially she presented as extremely quiet and shy, which I thought was due to an especially mean group of girls in second grade. In hindsight, there were other signs: couldn't ride bike, tie shoes at appropriate age, skip, handwriting laborious...It was when she entered high school at grade nine that the perfect storm hit: increased social expectations, increased executive functioning expectations such as foreign language, higher math, tests being worded very differently than the study guides, necessity of lifting out the big picture ideas for essays, etc...for our formerly A/B student, C/D became the norm for tests. When I voiced my concern to the school they passed it off as freshman transition. The pattern continued and worsened into tenth grade, where she would daily get into the car and emotionally fall apart. The school continued in denial. I pulled her out of public school half way thru tenth grade, began homeschooling thru an accredited program, while we got neurological testing, diagnosis, and supports in place, all private and out of pocket. She wanted to re enter public school for her senior year, so I approached the school, this time well informed, and insisted on an IEP for speech/language, a reduced school day due to anxiety and being ahead in credits due to homeschooling. The school did the minimal amount; she was supposed to have a lunch buddy and social skills group with neurotypical kids to help with the social component, never happened, her speech/language was 20" once a week for processing speed, a joke. I continued with private pay speech therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. She had a successful senior year, graduated with honors. The two years since have not been good. Very "stuck", even with supports of rehabilitative services and job coach, unable to secure a job after many applications and interviews, tried college twice and couldn't continue due to anxiety. Severe depression, generalized and social anxiety. It is extremely frustrating how little is known about NLD within the medical, educational, and even the mental health communities. I have started referring to it as "high functioning spectrum disorder" just out of sheer exhaustion of trying to explain it correctly and being met with blank stares at appointments. Be thankful for your early diagnosis, and know that you will have to inform, advocate, and fight like a mama bear to get your son the correct supports he needs to be successful, and be sure to get him in early for CBT if you start to see any signs of elevated anxiety or onset of depression. I wouldn't wish our last month on anyone :,(

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@A MyAutismTeam Member and @A MyAutismTeam Member thank you so much!

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@A MyAutismTeam Member thank you! I will ask to join the FB group. It is such an unknown disorder, even amongst professionals. Rightfully so, due to its name, it is so often misunderstood as someone being nonverbal, versus what it really means - not understanding nonverbal cues having visual spatial issues etc. Although there are some that consider it to be on the highest end of the spectrum, because it can present in very similar ways, it is still not recognized by schools or IDEA and support is very hard to find. I know that people with NLD have to be taught and in very specific ways and if it's not addressed properly can face many issues once they reach the teenage years, many that can become quite detrimental to a happy life. Did your daughter attended a public school, and when she was diagnosed was she properly supported by her teachers?

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