Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Learning Disability Simulation

This week in class we were required to do a learning disability simulation. The assignment was to do an activity where we are conversing with someone without using words that have the letters /l/ or /n/ in them. I found this task much more difficult than our stuttering simulation, and I don't know that I fully used all my words without /l/ or /n/, but I tried.
The first task I attempted was to locate a pumpkin patch in Rexburg. When we stopped to ask for directions I had tried to think about what I was going to say first and It was hard. I don't remember my exact words, but this is roughly how the conversation went.  I ask, "do you say where I see patch?" It was hard to keep my composure so I tried to act as confused as the man who was trying to understand me. When I repeated to phrase I tried to think of other things to say but when I said "patch" the man asked, "Pumpkin Patch?" and I replied, "yes" When he told me I asked him if it was a big patch, and he said it was fairly small but good prices. I could say thank you to the man so I said gracias. I felt pretty silly saying that, but it was the first thing that came to my mind. 
The next thing I did was order from Jimmy Johns today. This was really hard because I had to order for my and my husband as well. I said, "I order a 1 pepe" which is their number one sandwich. I then said, "As well, barbecue chips, and Dr. Pepper." Then I said  "pepe tomato at side." I didn't want tomatos but I didn't know how to say no tomatoes. My husband wanted a number sixteen so I said "16 lulu please, with barbecue chips and Dr. Peper." They then asked me if I wanted it for delivery or take out, and I said, "at my home". Luckily they already had my address in the system (I promise I'm not a regular). This time it was easier to keep my composure because it was over the phone, and I was able to think about what I needed to say first, but that is not what always happens.  And I don't like to admit it, but I was even a little embarrassed both times I had to talk to people. I couldn't imagine dealing with this every day.
I wonder if people who have learning disabilities have to think about what they are going to say long and hard like that? Or if they have the words in their mind, but they just don't come out. I can see how it would be so frustrating to carry out daily conversation and socialization with other people.

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