Cy*Burr // spring 2004

While students with learning disabilities may have different learning styles, Jannarone says they are often smarter than average students are.

In order to receive documentation for a learning disability, Jannarone says students must take a test that measures IQ and achievement.

"There has to be a 30-point difference between the two (areas)," she says. "If you think about it, their IQs have to be up there."

This doesn't mean students with learning disabilities don't work hard for their grades. In fact, according to Jannarone, they work even harder which is reflected in their studying habits.

For Walker and Vonderau, a great deal of studying time focuses on getting organized.

"Everything has to be in the right place when I begin a project," Walker says. "If it isn't, I get lost and say something like, "Where's my pencil?'"

He adds it would take him hours to get started if he wasn't organized.

"I give myself a lot of time to study and more extra time for when I get distracted," Vonderau says.

She explains how difficult it is for her to focus since she notices everything. She uses the example of talking to someone when others are conversing around her.

"The hardest thing for me to do is talk while hearing someone else. It is like a pile of mush going on. You know how you can pick and choose voices in a crowd to listen to? I can't pick. All I hear is wah-wah-wah."

Aside from different learning styles and studying habits, Vonderau says no two individuals experience the same type of effects.

“You know how you can pick and choose voices in a crowd to listen to? I can't pick. All I hear is wah-wah-wah."

"I met someone my freshmen year who had a learning disability. He said that when he looks at words the rest of the page moves. That would make me want to throw up," Vonderau says, laughing.

"Everyone is different in their disability. No two people are the same."

Individuals may vary in how a disability affects them, but this does not mean there are striking differences between them and the rest of society. Differences in learning styles and studying habits can differ by the individual.

This is the reason why Vonderau loves to talk about learning disabilities. She wants students to understand her perspective. Talking about it is her way of erasing common misconceptions.

Jannarone says students are not the only ones with misconceptions about students with learning disabilities.

"I had a discussion one day with a professor about a high-achieving graduate,” Jannarone says. “The student had a 4.0, and the professor said he did not understand why she needed to take her tests separately. Not everyone is bad at school, she just knew what she needed to do."

Vonderau says she believes teachers outside of college do not always understand students with learning disabilities. She adds that professors might not even believe disabilities like ADHD exist.

"When a student is getting bad grades and not paying attention, they (teachers) think the child is bratty,” she says, “If I ruled the world I would make sure every teacher goes through a class to learn about learning styles, and then teaching styles. This way, teachers can catch them (disabilities) and realize what to do."

Vonderau adds she has seen teachers who segregate students with learning disabilities in classrooms.

"I've seen situations where teachers treat everyone the same, but then I've seen teachers say, 'All the LD kids come over here.' It doesn't make a kid feel too great."

Vonderau says she believes education can change the ways students with learning disabilities are treated.

"Our society has some growing up to do,” she says. “It will take a while. We are all judgmental. It's a part of human nature.”

Walker says he has some advice for people who hold on to misconceptions.

"Come hang out with me and my friends. My disability is not a secret with them. It is kind of a joke. We just give each other a hard time like everyone else."