Susan Rachele: Overcoming Learning Disabilities

Hello, this is Susan Rachele, and I would like to share something about me that may not be obvious from the outset. While my appearance may make me look like any other person you cross paths with on the street, I actually have a learning disability called geographical dyslexia.

Have you ever wondered why some people have astute spatial awareness? And why some people have a bad sense of direction? I'm not saying that everyone who falls under the latter is geographically dyslexic, but learning about this disability may help one understand why certain people have a hard time with directions.

When it comes to dyslexia, the first thing people may think of is the reading and writing disorder. People who are dyslexic are confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations, and the condition can affect these individuals' social skills and self-esteem. However, dyslexia may also cause problems and confusion with directions, and not even on a complicated level such as reading and following maps—geographically dyslexic people may have trouble differentiating something as basic as left and right.

Imagine the anxiety and panic directional confusion can bring; more so if people who are geographically dyslexic do not know that they are, and they're unaware that there is such a condition. They may live their whole lives blaming themselves for this inadequacy when, in fact, people who have any form of dyslexia should be accorded the support they need.

In America alone, it is estimated that 1 in 10 people—around 40 million adults—are dyslexic and only 2 million know about their disability. What more of the people who have geographical dyslexia, which is less known than reading and writing difficulties?

I'm Susan Rachele, and if you have learning difficulties like I do, I hope you are well on your way to overcoming them.