Category Archives: nonverbal learning disability

Smooth Operator

by Linda Ballard

I tried to catch up with you the other day. The pace was too much for me. It felt like a marathon. My legs are so much shorter. Just when I thought I had caught up with your stride, my body hit pay dirt. You left me hanging off the rail wishing I had a bottle of Primestine Mist. One thing about it, you were dressed to impress. The navy blue suit you wore was raising hell and the lavender tie set it off. The look on your face was serious. Your arms swung out evenly from side to side. It didn’t matter how many emergencies the city had, you looked as though you were ready to put them all out. Are you wearing your Gasoline Drawers?

Every person you encountered on the streets was given a strong handshake. Your smile came bursting through. Words of hope were given to all the people who felt beaten down by the economy. Then all of a sudden you sat down on the curb in your nice suit. Do you think Eric Cantor or Paul Ryan would have given an uplifting curb service speech to the people in their high dollar cha-ching suit? Don’t answer!

Wherever you were headed it didn’t seem important anymore. You were answering questions about concerns of jobs, infrastructure, voters suppression, and the Big 3(Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid). An old lady appeared from out of nowhere. Silence came over the crowd. You looked directly into her eyes and you reached out and held her hand. Then you said, “How can I help you?” She responded, “You have helped me.” You are learning to ask the questions. Inclusions make you a part of us.

Sitting here among the people you have included yourself. The Republicans tried to divide you from WE THE PEOPLE and OUR NATION. You have not let Pride override the welfare of the People. The Republicans tried to make the American people feel in taking out the dictators, it was only your victory. WE THE PEOPLE and OUR NATION understood it was a victory for all. You are starting to learn from your MISTAKES. Achievement comes with ACKNOWLEDGING your MISTAKES and taking RESPONSIBILITY for your MISTAKES. You have shown the American People deference.Through all the criticism you did not let your head drop below the water. The eternal flame burns deep inside of you. The Human Factor works in your favor. You have remained HUMANE.

The Presidents before you made mistakes. The PRETENDERS/CONTENDERS have taken it to a new level of mistakes. Herman Cain is the cousin of the other mother, Oscar OCD, who is always entertaining the NO NO THOUGHTS. Go back and refresh your memory. Oscar OCD was in EASTER UNDER THE UMBRELLA_FOR NLD. Oscar OCD always referred to his little cousin Herman, as Captain Nasty McNuts. Tyrone Tourettes, the cousin of Bobby Tourettes, thought it meant Herman liked McNuggets. AH NO! I don’t think so.

Strange that HERMAN grew up in the Restaurant Business. Since he made his POKEMAN SPEECH he probably needs to call PICACHO to the RESCUE. The next cartoon character he might want to be is a TRANSFORMER. Yes, Herman Cain is more than meets the eye. He is the original DECEPTICON along with the other PRETENDERS/CONTENDERS. Starscream, Herman Cain, cannot be trusted. He is always trying to find a way to overthrow Megatron, Rick Perry. Sounds like this is playing in the media right about now.

Megatron, Rick Perry, is at Lowes picking up paint for his METEORITES which is all wrong. Sentinel Prime, Mitt Romney, has switched sides and his numbers still didn’t move in the polls. This is the perfect world for Mitt Romney.

He has so many characters to TRANSFORM into. If I was Herman Cain I would stay with the TRANSFORMERS. He’s going to need a hideout within himself and a new theme song. No one will ever notice the White 1999 MONTE CARLO is Herman Cain in the junkyard. The sign will read We BUY, SELL, and OWN previous DECEPTICONS by the Koch Brothers. In Training Day, Denzel Washington drove the Black MONTE CARLO. Herman Cain is NO Denzel.

Now it is TIME to develop a trusted loyal Crew so you won’t look distant or be isolated from your base. Steve Israel, Head of the Democratic Congressional Committee can whip the Democrats into shape. Lean to the side of the strong Democrats who use the media. In Smokelbg Tweets she gives her thumbs up to Bernie Sanders, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

We can’t leave out Barney Franks and Chuck Schumer, the Progressive/Liberal Democrats. You got the Ohio Players, not the singing group, the Democrats in Ohio. Sherrod Brown and Marcy Kaptur would be excellent team players.

The DEMOCRATS need to speak out and be compassionate about their leader. You have come a very long way. We can see your growth. Your message has gotten stronger. Son, I ain’t stopped BELIEVING in you. So you better not stop BELIEVING. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. BELIEVE IN YOUR PURPOSE. BELIEVE IN YOUR VISION. BELIEVE you are a SMOOTH OPERATOR.

Another voice shouts out from the crowd. SMOOTH OPERATOR, the REPUBLICANS are totally thrown off course. Their hatred is letting people around our nation and other nations know they have RESPECT only for the BENJAMIN’S BABY. All this business about your job ratings in the polls is at 40% is a bunch of sardines. Just think if we had Muammar Gaddafi for 42 years. Instead, we have Charles and David Koch causing havoc. We need to occupy their headquarters.

Who cares about those numbers? What polls are they reporting from? It sounds like Fox News statistics. Their math is way off the charts. They never do their research. We all know Bill O’Reilly is never WRONG. I do like Greta Van Susteren, Sheppard Smith, Geraldo Rivera, and Chris Wallace. Geraldo Rivera barbecues BILL O’Reilly’s butt. Geraldo is the chef of Burnt Ends. Watch out, Bobby Flay!

Chris Wallace broke down and told John Stewart that Fox News is Conservative. John Stewart of the DAILY SHOW keeps his Gasoline Drawers on and uses his flamethrower to set Fox News on fire. Fox News thinks this is the story of ROOTS 999. They made a lot of people have a “What The Hah Hell” moment. I guess Herman Cain is their Black. “What the Hah Hell” do they mean by your black/my black. Let’s send a friendly reminder to FOX NEWS letting them know that Slave Days Are Over.

Do they really have a Candidate? A young lady’s voice in the crowd rang out. With everything the Republicans have done to you, I would have blown a gasket. SMOOTH OPERATOR smiles and replies, “I need YOUR support.” War within Wars is no good. I am here for the People. The losses have made me gain great knowledge and great strength. I have Learned and Transformed. The past is just that, the past. The Moment is Now. We will continue to Press On. I will not be discouraged by Congress, the Republicans, and the TEA PARTY. The REPUBLICANS reading this will say I did not answer the question. We have to stop BLAMING. We need to Start MAINTAINING our government.

There are TIMES when we take Action, the Words are fulfilled. There are TIMES when we take Words and we may Fail to carry out the Action. Remember the word has been “NO.” Remember the Action was not carried out. Remember to do the Math. Remember that only 4 Democrats voted against the AMERICAN JOB ACT. The young lady asked, Who were the 4 Democrats? An elder man steps up and starts calling out names. It was them old tired Conservative Blue Dog Democrats. Roll Call Sister!

It was Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Senator John Tester of Montana, and Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas. I tell you what Sister, I can Remember 4 names. Baby Girl, all 49 REPUBLICANS voted against the bill. Now it is gonna be hard Remembering all 49 Knucklehead REPUBLICANS. Just Remember the Herman Cain Theory, 4+5=9 and you take out the (+5=) and you got 49. Maybe he will get 49 years for the 4 women he sexually harassed.

Why did it take 4 women and not just 1 of these charges to be acknowledged and taken seriously? Is it possible that a SUPREME COURT JUSTICE may have slipped through the cracks? Is it okay to label the poor and middle-class behavior? Why are we not acknowledging the behaviors of the rich and high-profile government officials? Go back and review GOT NO TIME TO BE DISABLED in the March Archives. You will find an answer.

A young boy around the age of 6 breaks through the crowd. His presence breaks the tension. “Are you who I think you are?” Somebody said you are the President of the United States. I told them No Way! You are the man with the plan. The man who understands. The man with the whole world in the palm of his hands. You are a SMOOTH OPERATOR. He jumps into PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’s lap and gives him a big hug. He lifts the young boy into the air. “I will keep my Promise.”

ADVISORY ALERT: It is hard for people diagnosed with NLD Syndrome and other exceptionalities to come off as SMOOTH OPERATORS. Some may lack the social communication skills, inability to read social cues, and interpreting body language. Others may have trouble with personal hygiene, and cocktail party speech. They have difficulty interpreting facial expression. It is hard for them to initiate a conversation or end a conversation. Their social judgment is poor. NLDers are not sure where his or her space is and cannot judge the distance(space invaders). This is due to visual-spatial organization. They are labeled by others as annoying, ill-mannered, rude, discourteous, and smart “aleck.”

People diagnosed with NLD Syndrome cannot detect hidden meanings of language and social interactions aren’t detected There will be many outbursts, social blunders, misinterpretations, and misjudgments. NLDers end up being the victims and are victimized because they are naively trusting. They DO NOT understand a person that is deceitful, cunning, or who manipulates others. They have faulty spatial perception only getting half of the picture.

Their behaviors are misinterpreted by our society as being INTENTIONAL. Their neurological and neuro-behavior right hemisphere disorder is UNINTENTIONAL. Sexual Harassment is a term that is very vaguely defined. It happens a lot in the workplace. It entails social situations, the making of unwanted sexual advances, and obscene remarks. How would it be possible to charge a person with NLD SYNDROME with sexual harassment if they have these characteristics and traits? People with NLD SYNDROME will not have a clue to what sexual harassment or any other type of harassment is due to the nature of their neurological disorder and their UNINTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS.

My advice to all parents is finding a neuro-psychologist or psychiatrist that has had years of knowledge, training, and experience in the field of Nonverbal Learning Disability. It is very essential that you have your child tested early. This diagnosis has been overlooked for 41 years and has not been placed on the DSM4. This is a great disservice to millions of people who are looking for answers for their children/adults. When AUTISM, ASPERGER, ADD, ADHD, PDD-NOS, OCD, TOURETTES SYNDROME, ANXIETY DISORDER, TIC DISORDER, just doesn’t add up, PLEASE turn YOUR ATTENTION to NLD SYNDROME

How many TIMES have people with NLD SYNDROME diagnosed/undiagnosed been falsely accused, misjudged, socially isolated, and punished repeatedly because society has failed to be educated about this neurological disorder?
How many people are locked away in institutions, given a counterproductive treatment plan, or heavily medicated because they have gone undiagnosed, the diagnosis is ignored/is hidden or the diagnoses were not understood?

How many people with this diagnosis have been falsely accused of a crime they didn’t commit or understand it was a crime due to the nature of their disability and their UNINTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS? How many people with this diagnosis have been incarcerated? How many lives have been lost and our society will continue to lose due to the secondary diagnosis of anxiety, stress, depression, and panic attack? Think about it. I hope this will help millions of people.

How can our society continue to violate the HUMAN and CIVIL RIGHTS of people with this diagnosis? This is in the DEFENSE for NLD SYNDROME. NLD Mom/cancer survivor

Refreshers Course In NLD

by Linda Ballard

There are many viewers who are coming to this blog for the first TIME. Here we are 10 months later and unless you started from the January Archives you probably don’t have a clue about NLD Syndrome. I could tell you to go back and read the stories in the January Archives. It’s really Time for a refresher course on NLD. NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disability) is a developmental disability that affects the right-hemisphere of the brain. NLDers process information differently because they miss a lot of information. This contributes to misinterpretation of the world around them. Without the whole piece of the puzzle, it causes them to act out inappropriately or unexpectedly.

If you can’t understand the tone of a person’s voice, give eye contact, or read the person’s body language there are going to be several misunderstandings. This is a neuro-behavioral disorder and the person with NLD has UNINTENTIONAL behaviors. They are NOT EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED.

This neurological disorder goes UNRECOGNIZED and unattended by professionals, teachers, parents, and society. Individuals who are diagnosed with NLD Syndrome demonstrate a mature vocabulary/very language proficient, rote memory skills (mechanical, habitual, repetition), and an excellent reading ability. People with this disorder can have difficulty interacting with others, transitioning to new settings, adapting to changes, working with new people, and trouble with writing/fine motor coordination. Although reading skills are exemplary, abstract concepts need to be explained in detail. Individuals with NLD Syndrome have difficulty understanding metaphors (a figure of speech), emotional nuances (may not be able to understand the expression on a persons face, the sound of their voice, or body language), multiple levels of meanings, relationship issues. My advice to you if you are talking with a person with NLD Syndrome, give a simple description, explicit explanations, and be very patient.

The three areas that encompass or surround NLD Syndrome is Motoric, Visual-Spatial/visual perceptual, and Social. Let’s start with Motoric. This deals with dexterity: the task of manipulating small objects, writing, typing, buttoning buttons. Riding a bike is grueling. Tying shoes may take years. It is hard for them to catch their balance, secure their equilibrium or bounce back with their balance. NLDers really work hard to master athletic skills. Sitting and eating on the floor is preferable.

I hope you’ve got other silverware because NLDers may resist eating with a fork or spoon. They are not interrogating you. NLDers full-fledged learning mode is when they are asking questions. They have problems on the left side of their body. Psycho-motor skills involve the thinking through the process of physical movements such as coordination, speed, manipulation of the object, agility, dexterity, strength, and grace. Bottom line, if you are still holding the ball, you are thinking about it for an extended period of TIME, or trying to figure out “What The Hah Hell” to do with the ball, you have poor psychomotor coordination.

You are not going to be on DANCING WITH THE STARS. You are no MARIO ANDRETTI, and there will be NO KAREEM ABDUL JABAAR SKYHOOK. The key is it comes easy or more automatic and you have not spent so much time processing out every little detail. Are you still sitting in the parking lot? Are you trying to figure out why you keep getting so many driving violations? Driving is major coordination. NLDers can succeed in these tasks but it may take a very long TIME and please be PATIENT.

In the area of visual-perception/visual-spatial, people with NLD have difficulty understanding and reading maps, charts, graphs, left, right, drawing complex figures, and understanding higher math such as geometry. Thank God for GPS, color by number, etch of a   sketch, and all the wonderful apps that are put on the magnificent IPAD for learning. STEVE JOBS and his wonderful team revolutionized the world. NLDers talk their way through a situation. They are auditory-verbal learners and they need to hear what is being processed. A blue-tooth solves this problem of everyone staring when NLDers are processing out loud. From bumping into people, struggling with concept formation, and not getting the whole picture, they have the market cornered.

Social miscueing causes problems interpreting body language, and facial expression. People with NLD have problems in this area. Sometimes they stand too close (space invaders), or too far away when engaging in a conversation. It is hard for them to understand how to start a conversation or for them to end the conversation. If you can get them to deal with the situation in a practical, sensible, and realistic manner versus philosophical or theoretical manner you are batting a thousand (pragmatic skills). They have outbursts, are labeled annoying, or want to get all the attention. NLDers just won’t let go, they hold on, have many social blunders, are abrupt/have knife cutting responses, and they have difficulty thinking creatively or abstractly. They have problems with identifying faces or reading the person’s face, interpreting gestures/deciphering body posture, An NLDer doesn’t change their speech, have a monotone voice, and constantly misjudge or misinterpret what is being put before them or said to them.

NLDers have attentional deficits causing difficulty in coping with over-stimulating or distracting environments and requiring them to have limited distractions and assistance in focusing themselves. They have difficulty in performing multiple tasks simultaneously causing them to need to do one thing at a TIME and LIMIT the amount of information they can take in at the same TIME(They CANNOT follow multiple commands given at once). Organizational skills are a huge problem area with NLDers. They have a very hard TIME organizing material on their own. Assistance is needed in the area of writing outlines, sequencing/order, planning, prioritizing, transitioning from one idea or aspect of a project/problem to another. Does this remind you of anyone? Feel free to go back and review the January Archives.

DEDICATED: Everyone across America, take a closer look at this diagnosis. I wonder why the AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION(APA), with 38,000 psychiatrists under their UMBRELLA failed to put NLD SYNDROME on the map after 41 years?

Why did the APA see fit to enlist diagnoses, such as sex addiction or internet addiction or other impertinent diagnoses that let people ESCAPE from being held ACCOUNTABLE for their INTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS?

Dr. PHIL, DR. DREW, DR. OZ, DEEPAK CHOPRA and many other specialists in the field of medicine and psychiatry would probably agree with me. Too many people are severely hurt and have died from not being properly diagnosed or overlooked altogether.

Should the APA be held accountable for leaving Nonverbal Learning Disability(NLD), a neurological disorder with UNINTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS off of their diagnostic manual? They are well aware that people who are diagnosed with this disorder can suffer from severe depression. Why did the APA stop testing? Why has there not been more information distributed on NLD Syndrome? Has the AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION been corrupted by money and politics to protect their funding?

Is the AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION trying to close the GAP on INTENTIONAL versus UNINTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS? Or would it be our GOVERNMENT? Our government has been very dysfunctional. Take a look at the contenders for PRESIDENCY. Look even closer at the GOP, REPUBLICANS, TEA PARTY, BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS and some members of the CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCAS. We can tell from watching the debates the front-runners have serious problems. The weakest links will once again be controlled by the 1%. Who’s brain will be used if one of the contenders is chosen for President? Our JUSTICE SYSTEM has been very UNJUST. Our Supreme Court System is totally out of BOUNDS and off the Court. Our Constitution needs to be revamped.

Think about it AMERICA! Something is seriously wrong. Who should be held ACCOUNTABLE? Who is covering up?

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep__An NLD Mother’s Prayer

by Linda Ballard

It appears that certain government officials didn’t like the language of President Barack Obama’s Speech. I did not come here to defend the President because this is a man who can PRESS ON.

MAXINE WATERS, you may like your HIGH HEELS, you may not like wearing SLIPPERS. You say you work, you march, but you are sending a mixed message to the people. There are many ways which each individual can convey their message.

It appears you have a problem with understanding what others are trying to convey or even say. Are YOU listening? Do YOU have your own AGENDA?

Being candid can give people the impression in which your straightforwardness reflects no COMPASSION, EMPATHY, or SUPPORT. My son speaks candidly. He was diagnosed with NLD Syndrome at the age of 4 years 10 months. Now that he is older he has a very strong voice and tone. He is more like Chris Christie only a DEMOCRAT. Chris Christie has a very strong tone and so far there is no recanting of what he may say. I asked my son what is it about MAXINE WATERS that is disturbing about her political stance. He said, “If you go to the CREW you will find 15 MOST CORRUPT MEMBERS of CONGRESS on this LIST”. Yes, she is on the list and she has her own agenda. He also stated she was listed for the year 2006, 2007, and 2009. The future of government lies in the hands of our younger adults. How can we trust the platform of government officials if our elder’s behaviors are so poorly?

The behavior of Elected officials in government doesn’t match the words that come from their mouths. Maxine Waters has continued to insert her foot in her mouth and videotaped her A… Yet rudeness has been placed upon the backs of those with NLD Syndrome. People diagnosed with NLD Syndrome bear the scars and wear the banners of curtness, inappropriate/unexpected behavior, behavior problems, angry/explosive and implosive behavior. Our society accused those with NLD Syndrome with acting out intentionally. Yet this behavior has been relentlessly displayed by Maxine Waters and many other government officials. You are in for a rude awakening if you know someone diagnosed with NLD Syndrome.They will wax your A… and continue to buff.

Sugar coating will never happen. Loyalty is a strong trait that NLDers carry which political officials need to borrow. Maxine Waters’ sense of loyalty will reveal itself on the evening news by once again recanting her statements. Showing her loyalty lies with her own personal agenda of having a political position in the year 2012. We are tired of our Government officials throwing each other under the bus. The behavior of our government is deplorable.

My son’s political stance is not to go golfing with John Boehner and feel comfortable with Mitch McConnell. We all know where he stands. Eric Canter blocks all and keeps everything to himself. Jim Demint’s followers, the Tea Party, are out of control. The Republicans and the Tea Party recant their statements all the TIME. As a race of people, we need to support the INTELLIGENCE OF THE MIND and those decisions which will affect the lives of not just one RACE of people but for ALL the people.

Our young adults are taking a closer look at the political figures. Herman Caine announced he was a real black man. If you have to do a public service announcement on your manhood you fall short in a lot of areas. Herman Cain, Alan West, Jessie Lee Peterson, Lloyd Marcus, Star Parker and many others who are attached at the right hip of the Right Wing Extremists will get a friendly reminder from their GRAND MOO FA.

Rush Limbaugh, Grand MOO FA, his second in command Glenn Beck, and all of FOX NEWS will make a public service announcement to Herman Caine and his BLACK JACK GANG. It will be brief. The Grand Moo FA doesn’t think that African Americans are INTELLIGENT. Herman Caine shares those same beliefs and thinks we have been brainwashed into becoming DEMOCRATS. “You People” have confused the younger African Americans and we have accomplished our goal, stated the GRAND MOO FA. On the Tyra Banks show, we saw African Americans wanting to be white. Younger adults wanting to belong to the KKK. Hell, even in grade school, smaller children are beginning to think dark skin is ugly and natural hair is nappy.

When smaller children are asked to pick out who is the smarter child, they picked out the one who is white. You guys have been just great in screwing up your race. You have served your Purpose and your services are no longer needed. “Herman Caine while you were out trying to discover your identity and put your BLACKNESS under the Microscope, I Rush Limbaugh, the Grand Moo FA, discovered something better.” You are not FREE to go. We Own you. What a Sell-Out. Price of Success.

The Congressional BLACK CAUCUS and the BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS need to understand it is not just about the POLITICS of our government. This is about the lives of the PEOPLE and what is best for the PEOPLE.

Our children’s lives should pave the way for a brighter future. Our children’s lives are at great risk and they are no longer living out the full term of their life. A parent’s worst nightmare is to see their child in a coffin surrounded by other young adults. This is a permanent TIME OUT and Recess is over. Even if our children grow up it is hard to see them incarcerated, on death row, and murdered by a senseless death. Before my children were put to bed at night they would get on their knees and pray.

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord My soul shall keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul shall take. This prayer has been modified for today’s children and young adults. Before I lay my head to rest. I pray to God I have done my best. When death comes to my soul, I pray to God my children grow old. AMEN! It is TIME TO PRESS ON. It is TIME for TIME_EXTENSION OF LIFE.

DEDICATED: To the future of our children. IN loving MEMORY of STEVE JOBS whose EXIT is NOW A PERMANENT ENTRANCE. You take a closer look at people and everything that surrounds your life. For the first TIME, the field of one’s life extends across the way. It is not dying from what you have but living with the TRUTH of what you have. The TRUTH of having your hands on DEATHS DOORWAY changes everything about you. Steve Jobs, myself, and many others who wear those shoes know what is TRULY IMPORTANT. The TRUTH is a powerful key and it will UNLOCK many doors. DISEASE AND DEATH is the LATCH that can be OPEN with the key of TRUTH. ACCEPTANCE of the TRUTH gives an extension to live. DENIAL of the TRUTH shortens the desire to fight the LATCH of DISEASE and DEATH when you finally come to grips with the TRUTH.

NLD Mom/cancer survivor

Let Fathers Be Fathers

by Linda Ballard

This experience is frightening for me. Our son has to go through a diagnostic evaluation to see if he has a learning disability. He was fine until he reached middle school then his grades begin to drop. The more things he had to do on his own he just didn’t seem to be able to get organized for his school work. I thought it was because his grandmother passed away. Quincy and his grandmother were so close. She practically raised him from a baby. His mother, Catherine, worked two jobs and her mother offered to help us out. JoAnn, Catherine’s mother, was a diabetic. I always felt my wife should quit one of her jobs so we could spend more time with Quincy. I didn’t mind making the sacrifice to work the extra hours. I wanted at least one parent to be with Quincy so he wouldn’t feel he was so alone. She was forced to quit one of the jobs after her mother died. I don’t know if she resented coming home.

I worked for the railroad. It was a fairly decent pay when I put in the extra long hours. Milton, a long time co-worker, and my best friend had a son diagnosed with autism. He shared many stories about his son. Milton’s stories frightened me because they always seemed to be so closely connected to my life. It appeared that Milton and his ex-wife had problems regarding their son being autistic. Later I learn Milton’s ex-wife had trouble with any women coming around her son or dating Milton.

Milton had gained full custody of his son. He was very proactive in his son’s life. Milton had started an autism support group. He had invited me several times. It always made me feel as if Milton was so many steps ahead of me. He continued to ask me to come and participate in the Autism group. Some parts of me wanted to attend but the other half of me was afraid. For some reason, I could see part of my life being like Milton. It felt like the movie Face Off.

Catherine and I had trouble in our marriage. She blamed herself for not being there when her mother passed away. We had problems before her mother ever came to stay. Her mother’s presence helped relieve a great amount of stress in our household.

JoAnn was so patient and kind with Quincy. She was Quincy’s rock. Catherine and I were so tired after working so many hours. It left us no room to deal with Quincy’s problems. It didn’t allow him the ability to process when he became angry and frustrated. JoAnn would always tell Catherine, Let Fathers be Fathers and Deal With It. Let the boy’s father deal with his behavior. Catherine was quick-tempered and lacked patience. It would make Quincy’s behavior become very explosive.

More and more Quincy’s behavior started changing and he begins to sleep a lot. I became greatly concerned because I thought Quincy was slipping into a state of depression. Catherine said Quincy just wanted attention and he was just lazy and she didn’t have the time to be bothered with his foolishness. Where did that response come from? When I ask her about her statement, she glared at me with her lip twisted and stormed out of the room. I guess that was my answer. We had begun to argue more frequently.

I was all for the evaluation but Catherine would get upset every time I would try to talk about it. We were getting closer to our evaluation date. Catherine had almost totally shut down. The moments of silence were killing me and I just couldn’t take it anymore. Every time I would try to discuss how we could help Quincy she would bring up her father and how he would deal with the situation. Catherine was very close to her father. At the age of 17, her father died on his way to work of a stroke. She always compared me to her dad. At first, I didn’t mind. I kind of thought it was an honor until I talked to JoAnn. Before Catherine’s mother died we had this conversation about JoAnn’s husband. He wasn’t the man my wife made him out to be.

In the heat of the moment, I tried to get Catherine to talk. When she mentioned her dad my head spun around like I was the star in the Exorcist. The next thing I knew I had revealed what Catherine’s mother had told me about her dad. At that moment I realized from the look on my wife’s face she never knew. My heart-felt as if it was going to come through my chest. I would never say or do anything to hurt Catherine. It was all over. Catherine ran into the bedroom and started grabbing her clothes out of the closet. I was trying to prevent her from leaving and I don’t remember what happened after that. I have tried to relive that moment in the bedroom a thousand times. The only thing I do remember is I was trying to guard my face. When I looked down, my shirt was bloody. From the mirror in the bedroom, I could see scratches all over my body. I called Milton to see if he could pick Quincy up from school. He never asked for an explanation.

Everything was going through my mind. Did she call the police? When were the police going to arrive? Whatever happened in that bedroom, Catherine never came back. The police never showed up. Who said that men don’t cry. I cried for days and days. I love my wife but we always seem to communicate with other people. That did not help our marriage at all. Months had passed and finally, I got a call from one of Catherine’s longtime friends from New York. Beverly told me Catherine was granting me full custody of Quincy. Before I could ask about Catherine, I was listening to the dial-tone. Just when I thought I had pulled myself together the crying came back. Here was my son asking all these questions and I had no answers. Quincy and I had to move on.

Quincy did get evaluated and he was diagnosed with NLD Syndrome. I have full custody of Quincy now. He often asks me if he was the cause of his mother leaving. He wonders will she ever come back. I wonder the same. Catherine and I never really communicated what was on our minds and in our hearts. We were both too young to have children. I am seeking professional help. There is so much I need to work through. I don’t want to be an angry parent. This isn’t just about my life. I need to be sure I don’t damage Quincy’s life. He has a lot to deal with. I will be right there for him. I have a lot to learn about NLD Syndrome. Milton is helping me to set up a support group and build a website. Yes, I am afraid that I will keep my promise to Quincy’s grandmother. Let Fathers be Fathers and continue to advocate for their children’s needs. Let Fathers be Fathers and understand the social and emotional part of their children’s life. Let Fathers Be Fathers and show the love, support, and embrace their child’s weakness just as they would rally around their strengths. JoAnn is probably looking down on me and Quincy today. As JoAnn would say, Let Fathers be Fathers and Deal With It.

DEDICATION: This story is dedicated to a young man who had to deal with it. He has done an exceptional job and is very supportive of his family and children. He would make any mother proud of how he is handling his life and the lives of family and friends he has touched. This one is for you, Willie Watson.

New Wave Physician__Healthy Choice Doctor For NLD

by Linda Ballard

Scene:  Smokelbg is on the prowl for the most creative, updated, and therapeutic doctors in the field today. On her shopping tour, you will be surprised about the doctors she encounters. She wants the doctors to understand NLD Syndrome, and for people to RECOGNIZE that NLD Syndrome may be very common.

The American Psychiatric Association needs to be held accountable for the exclusion of NLD Syndrome after 41 yrs. of not placing it in their diagnostic manual.  In reviewing the history of the APA, Smokelbg understands why NLD Syndrome is not on the DSM-5. Smokelbg wants to bring awareness to her New Wave Physicians and people around the world.

Smokelbg:

It is TIME! I am on my way to shop for the most innovative doctors.  I want the best choice and a healthy choice for NLD Syndrome. This is where we cut the fat. A person diagnosed with NLD Syndrome needs excess fluff cut out of their diet. They need the facts and not the fat.  Dr. OZ gives explicit, concrete visuals, examples, and information.  We get the message and it is exactly what NLD needs.  Dr. OZ makes it a point to show how important it is to make life changes so we can extend our life by changing our diet. NLD needs lots of modification and choices incorporated into their life diet to enable them to work around their deficits and not be set up for failure. NLD doesn’t need unrealistic goals set. They need lots of TIME. That is what I really like about  Dr. Oz and his show. He makes it clear to his audience this just won’t happen overnight. It will take TIME to get results.

Dr. OZ:

Now Smokelbg, you know that I emphasize how important it is to cut back and eat smaller meals, exercise, and see a doctor before you take on any new exercise regimen. Our body needs to be watered like a plant. So make sure you drink plenty of water. Your body needs the appropriate amount of rest. It will take TIME and a STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE so you don’t expect quick results. From the results, you will make PROGRESS.

Smokelbg:

Dr. Oz, this is what I want people to understand about NLD. It’s going to take a long TIME and it is a STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE. In today’s world, we want everything to happen RIGHT NOW.   In our society, we want fast food, to get rich quick, and to become a superstar overnight. The fast food proves to be unhealthy for our body. The people who won the lottery made poor investments and lost all their money. The overnight superstars got cocky, acted out impulsively, and landed on the front page of the  National Enquirer.  So you see Dr. Oz, people choose to spend hours waxing and rubbing their cars, but they cannot take the TIME out of their day to BUFF THEIR LIFE.

We put so much time and preparation into planning a wedding. This process can take months. Very little preparation goes into preparing COPING SKILLS to help us get through a single day. Look at all the TIME we invest in our jobs and the STRESS it causes. We don’t take the TIME to develop STRATEGIES to help deal with the STRESS. Depression sets in and we are now the TIDY BOWL ACHIEVERS. The work we produce looks like it comes from A JANITOR IN A DRUM. The company thinks we are full of  DOO DOO. We need lots of encouragement and praise to be more productive on the job. Our performance is going to get worse.

Now look here Dr. OZ, the same thing can happen to a person with NLD Syndrome. They will probably end up at the psychiatrist suffering from depression, anxiety, panic, and stress. THE TIDY BOWL ACHIEVERS will end up in your office suffering from hypertension, high blood pressure, or a good old faithful heart attack. Either way, it is not good. Can we just get an e-mail that reads, “You guys are doing a fantastic job? No, you are not getting a raise but hugs, kisses, and warm fuzzies to you. Keep up the good work. Hey, it’s better than nothing.”  The TIDY BOWL ACHIEVERS would internally think this is a bunch of DOO DOO. NLDers are external and very verbose and they will say to their boss, “you are full of SHhhh.”

There goes the NLDERS job and we are back to square one. They will not hold back on what they think because of processing information from the outside in. This is only one of the reasons why they get fired so often. Truth by no fault is NLDers M.O. and people can’t take it straight up front.

Dr. OZ:

Thanks, Smokelbg, I’m beginning to get the picture of how it works for the NLDers. I appreciate the lesson. I tell you what, I’ll see if  I can get you in with Dr. PHIL. He would be quite fascinated with NLD Syndrome. I will give him a call and tell him you are on the way.

Smokelbg:

Thank you, Dr. OZ for letting me bend your ears back. I will be back in my red slippers to get my lab work done. I want to make sure my clock doesn’t stop ticking. I’m glad somebody around here is getting the picture. For a moment I thought I was going to have a heart attack fooling around with the APA.

I’m coming around the corner. Here’s Dr. Phil’s office. Okay, room 666. Aahh Man, you are kidding me!  Maybe he’s going to play the Devil’s Advocate. Excuse me, I have an appointment to see Dr.Phil. I hope this isn’t a long wait. Watch, the receptionist is going to tell me I’m scheduled for 10:45 a.m.

Receptionist:

Do you have your insurance card? Is the information on your insurance updated?  Is this your first visit here? Please fill out these papers and your appointment is at 10:45 a.m. Your copay is $25.00.

Smokelbg:

No, I have coupons. It’s just a Paul Ryan joke. Sure, everybody is scheduled at 10:45 in the morning…  Let me reach over here and read this magazine. Let’s see who is on the cover of TIME MAGAZINE today. All right! SHAQUILLE O’NEAL RETIRES. Enjoy your life SHAQ. I had a good SHAQ DAY yesterday.

Receptionist:

Dr. Phil is ready to see you now. Who is Paul Ryan?

Smokelbg:

If you don’t know you might be in good shape. Dr. Phil, thanks for seeing me on such a short notice. I brought you some books on Nonverbal Learning Disabilities.  I have Rourke, B.P. (1995) Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disability:  Neuro-developmental Manifestations, Guilford Press. Rourke, B.P. (1989) Nonverbal Learning Disabilities:  The Symbol and the Model, Guilford Press. Questions and Answers #1-48, Home Page: WWW.NLD-BPROURKE.CA.  Whitney, R. V. (2008),  Nonverbal Learning Disorder: Understanding and Coping with NLD and Asperger’s – What Parents and Teacher’s Need To Know, Pedigree Books. Semrud-Clikeman M, & Hynd GW. (1990).

Right hemisphere dysfunction in nonverbal learning disabilities: social, academic, and adaptive functioning in adults and children. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 196-209.  I will throw in another website, NLDONLINE.CA, just in case you want a quick overview.

Dr. Phil:

Thank you for the information Smokelbg. Do you always give the doctors a book when you first meet them?

Smokelbg:

Yes, I do. Two things can happen from this point on. It can piss the doctor off and they will feel intimidated that I’m questioning their knowledge on the subject we are about to explore.  On the other hand, the doctor will be thrilled with the information, willing to hear me out, and learn. Which one are you?

Dr. Phil:

I am willing to learn. Now Smokelbg, this is a lot. It will take some sessions for me to get through this information. Can you brief me?

Smokelbg:

Dr.Phil I did not want to get caught with my drawers down. All the outbreaks of behaviors from the now INFAMOUS RECOGNIZABLE had me worried. So many of them are getting caught with their drawers down, FOR REAL. There has got to be an explanation.  A lot of the RECOGNIZABLE look like they had traits and characteristics of NLD Syndrome.

Dr. Phil, it is not that hard. You have all this body language you display. When you start confronting the parents on your show it is all over your face. Your eyebrows can tell a story by themselves. People with NLD Syndrome cannot read body language and they miss a lot of information. Your eyebrows can’t even get a message to NLD… They have a developmental disability which causes the right hemisphere of the brain to process information differently. Do to faulty perception and how they process their information cause them to have a neuro-behavioral disorder which or unintentional behaviors. They are not emotionally disturbed. Bottom line is they need an interpreter just as you would need an interpreter in a foreign country.

How are you going to know how to act and respond if you don’t understand the language?  How are you going to develop friends and relationships in a country where the language is a barrier and is abstract?  NLD Syndrome has the same problem with abstract language in our own country. They can’t read between the lines.

I have always loved when Joan Rivers said,”CAN WE TALK”.  Nowadays people hate talking and communicating. The text in the same room with the other person only a few feet away. They e-mail you or fax you and you can be an ear-shot away. They FACEBOOK you to death, TWEET you out, and will have a YOUTUBE moment to blow your cover.  So some doctor needs to review the social communication aspect of NLD Syndrome.  We all begin to fall short in this area and begin to look like we have NLD Syndrome. What communication? What do you think Dr. Phil? Why are you looking at me like that?  Are we going to have one of those MADEA MOMENTS?

Dr. Phil:

You are doing fine. You have some valid points. No, we are not going to have a MADEA MOMENT.

Smokelbg:

Okay, you just start looking at me funny. People with NLD Syndrome can really talk. They are auditory-verbal and they want an explanation for everything. This is their mode of learning. They do not explore their environment. People feel they are being challenged and become very annoyed when questioned by  NLDers.

A person with NLD Syndrome will say,  ” I know you feel stupid because you don’t have an answer. Don’t worry you are not alone. There are a lot of stupid people in the world. The ones who are really stupid are the ones who say I’ll get back with you, but they know they are not coming back.”  Get the picture, Dr. Phil. Don’t go to a funeral.

They will walk up to a coffin and say exactly what we think silently. They may laugh out loud and point out the dress is ugly and say the person has on too much makeup. If someone comments the person did not look like themselves, the response from the person with NLD is this, “Have you ever seen them dead before. They look like this all the time.”

NLDers are not rude. Most of the time when they say something they are correct. We just tuck our comments away and when no one is around we express how we really feel. Now if the microphone is turned on, here comes the  YouTube Moment.We are basically NLD Syndrome Undercover. Who writes, or does math anymore, or pays attention to anyone other than themselves. We are in the computer age Doc. It’s all done for us. We covered the social aspect of NLD Syndrome. The only two areas left that encompass NLD Syndrome is MOTORIC  and VISUAL SPATIAL ORGANIZATION.  As far as motoric, NLD Syndrome nervous system is totally off track or compromised and they have a severe coordination problem. Gymnastics are out, tying shoes, and riding a motorcycle is under advisory alert: DON’T DO.  NLD Syndrome has difficulty with judging people, distance, and weight of objects. They are in your face and in your space. Disorganized is at the top of their list. Advisory Alert: No long road trips unless you have a GPS device. They don’t do puzzles.

They cannot see the forest for the trees,  recognition of faces/places, and is attached to the right or left hip of an adult because they bind through continuous dialogue to stabilize themselves. Well, Dr. Phil, I see you are checking your watch so you must have another appointment. Check out my other stories. When is our next appointment?

Dr. Phil:

Tell the receptionist to set you up for an appointment at 10:45 a.m. The same place. The same channel. The year 2666 will be a perfect time. I’m just kidding you. I will see you next month on July 20, Wednesday.

Smokelbg:

Don’t make me have a MADEA MOMENT and saw your beautiful leather sofa in half,  just kidding. I’ll be here in my devil’s outfit next month. I will go over to  Cambridge Building and see if I can set up an appointment with Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Drew. I must speak to the Dali Lama.

Dr. Phil:

Good luck Smokelbg. I thought she already had her suit on.  She is on a mission. Let me get in here and start reading so next month I will have a couch to sit on. I don’t want to be caught with my drawers down. We have had a lot of that behavior lately.

This story is dedicated to the New Wave Physicians at KU Med Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Dr. Albert Buddy Poje Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Licensed Psychologist. KU Med Center, University of Kansas Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology, Dr. Monica Kurylo

PH.D. ABPP Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology, Assistant Professor, and Licensed Clinical Psychologist. I like to give special thanks to Dr. William Stiers, PH.D., Dr. Steve Colson PH.D., Dr. David Richman PH.D., Dr. R. Matthew Reese, PH.D.

To the following doctors who put so much hard work into diagnosing our children, I truly want to thank all of you. This is a time to bridge the gap and fight on the assessment. This blog is created to bring clarity and understanding to parents, teachers, a person with extraordinary minds, unique abilities, and multi-level learning styles, doctors, attorneys, entrepreneurs, and every person around the WORLD.  I will like to give a very special THANK YOU  to the founders of WORD PRESS, Matthew Charles Mullenweg and Mike Little for giving me and many bloggers the opportunity to PRESS THE WORD TO THE CURVE.  As CAMEO would say WORD UP.

The Truth About NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disability) And Who It Can Resembled your

by

One day the American Psychiatric Association took a really good look at the traits and characteristics of NLD Syndrome. Who did those traits and characteristics resemble? You guessed it, the APA. Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) has been around for 41 years and has not made the list. Sometimes when we look into the mirror or under our own microscope we do not like the reflection that bounces off the mirror. Even worse, we really don’t like the disease under the microscope. So what would be the best solution?  A cover-up will be just fine. The APA can drag their feet for years.  The American Psychiatric Association sees the correlation of NLD Syndrome to their Association. So why test or even acknowledge this syndrome?  NLD Syndrome might start popping up all over the place. It might just resemble too many people who are RECOGNIZABLE. If the American Psychiatric Association started testing for NLD Syndrome on a consistent basis, it’s no telling who might turn up on THE LIST.

Let’s take a look at the history of the American Psychiatric Association, who has decided to distance themselves from the Psychologists many years ago. The APA (American Psychiatric Association) was formulated in 1844 in Philadelphia. Their symbol carries 13 stars over a head of an individual inside a coin-shaped emblem. The stars represented the 13 superintendents and organizers of the insane asylums and hospitals which were constructed to formulate the new American Psychiatric Association. The APA has had a pattern of making irresponsible decisions for many years.  At one time homosexuality was placed on the DSM as a disorder. It was voted out and removed in 1973.  APA later had the Mission Impossible effect to change the name to protect themselves. The name of homosexuality was changed to ego-dystonic sexuality and later removed from the DSM in 1987. Once again the tape has blown up on the mission. The American Psychiatric Association is back to putting a crazy diagnosis on their list. They were considering putting Internet Addiction on the list.  Imagine that. For my NLDers who cannot imagine, it would be putting the Internet on medication and locking it up in an insane asylum for no more viewing. This would hide the truth about the APA and who they may resemble.

Dr. Allen Frances MD.,  who use to be a member of the DSM4 task force, wrote a very interesting article on April 8th, 2011.  The article was in Psychology Today. It was called DSM5 In Distress. This is how the Dr. Allen Frances List looks.

1.) DSM5 keeps missing their deadline.

2.) The APA proposals were reckless.

3.) They had poor planning and missed deadlines.

4.) APA over promised and under delivered.

5.) The APA procrastinated and has compromised the coding of the DSM5.

6.) APA poorly thought out the proposal.

7.) 1st draft of the DSM5 was written sloppily.

8.) APA gave extension and wasted these extensions in many ways.

9.) The International Classification of Disease (ICD) World Health Organization in Geneva codes and modification may have been compromised.

10.) ICD-10 codes were written to align themselves with the DSM4. What codes will be written to align themselves with the DSM5?

11.) A window of opportunity will be missed to place a significant diagnosis on the list.

CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAITS OF NLD SYNDROME

1.) problems with time on tasks

2.) trouble with organizational skills

3.)  difficulty with scheduling, disorganized, cannot project or judge

4.) can’t put their thoughts on paper/written responses,  can talk the talk but cannot walk the walk, problems with productivity when it comes to paper tasks, expresses themselves eloquently

5.) difficulty getting started on a related task, needs to be jump started to initiate plans or on related task, problems in the areas of communication, difficulty multitasking, difficulty understanding what is relevant/irrelevant

6.) faulty spatial perception, problems with executive functions, difficulty being creative and can only think in black and white

7.) difficulty with motor impairment causing writing task to be grueling, slow

8.) difficulty with transition and adapting to change

9.) talks their way through the motor task

10.) they constantly talk their way in or out of a situation

11.)  gestalt impressions (they just don’t get the whole picture)

12.) Problems with their decision-making process which makes it very difficult to understand cause and effect.

13.) trouble with alignment

These characteristics and traits of NLD Syndrome resemble the American Psychiatric Association and their work in progress on the DSM5. We may begin to recognize NLD Syndrome is more common if consistent testing were done.

It SHOULD matter if it is my house, or your house, the poor house or the White House!  NLD could be rearing its head in recognition and striking very close to home. (DYNAMITE, DYNAMITE)  There are many unexplained behaviors which have revealed themselves in the past years to many who are RECOGNIZABLE.  Dr. Allen Frances, I hope this explains why the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is off task. This might even explain why NLD Syndrome has never been placed on the list. Sometimes a reflection of who we may resemble may keep us from looking directly into the mirror. It is the FEAR, SHAME, GUILT, and HUMILIATION of being found out. The American Psychiatric Association may not be as credible as we may expect them to be. Who truthfully is NLD? Who does NLD resemble? WHY is the American Psychiatric Association (APA) keeping NLD SYNDROME off their LIST (DSM5)?

Coming to an IMAX  Theatre in May 2013, in 3D, the DSM5–Hopefully

The Truth About NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disability) And Who It Can Resemble

by Linda Ballard

One day the American Psychiatric Association took a really good look at the traits and characteristics of NLD Syndrome. Who did those traits and characteristics resemble? You guessed it, the APA. Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) has been around for 41 years and has not made the list. Sometimes when we look into the mirror or under our own microscope we do not like the reflection that bounces off the mirror. Even worse, we really don’t like the disease under the microscope. So what would be the best solution?  A cover-up will be just fine. The APA can drag their feet for years.  The American Psychiatric Association sees the correlation of NLD Syndrome to their Association. So why test or even acknowledge this syndrome?  NLD Syndrome might start popping up all over the place. It might just resemble too many people who are RECOGNIZABLE. If the American Psychiatric Association started testing for NLD Syndrome on a consistent basis, it’s no telling who might turn up on THE LIST.

Let’s take a look at the history of the American Psychiatric Association, who has decided to distance themselves from the Psychologists many years ago. The APA (American Psychiatric Association) was formulated in 1844 in Philadelphia. Their symbol carries 13 stars over a head of an individual inside a coin-shaped emblem. The stars represented the 13 superintendents and organizers of the insane asylums and hospitals which were constructed to formulate the new American Psychiatric Association. The APA has had a pattern of making irresponsible decisions for many years.  At one time homosexuality was placed on the DSM as a disorder. It was voted out and removed in 1973.  APA later had the Mission Impossible effect to change the name to protect themselves. The name of homosexuality was changed to ego-dystonic sexuality and later removed from the DSM in 1987. Once again the tape has blown up on the mission. The American Psychiatric Association is back to putting a crazy diagnosis on their list. They were considering putting Internet Addiction on the list.  Imagine that. For my NLDers who cannot imagine, it would be putting the Internet on medication and locking it up in an insane asylum for no more viewing. This would hide the truth about the APA and who they may resemble.

Dr. Allen Frances MD.,  who use to be a member of the DSM4 task force, wrote a very interesting article on April 8th, 2011.  The article was in Psychology Today. It was called DSM5 In Distress. This is how the Dr. Allen Frances List looks.

1.) DSM5 keeps missing their deadline.

2.) The APA proposals were reckless.

3.) They had poor planning and missed deadlines.

4.) APA over promised and under delivered.

5.) The APA procrastinated and has compromised the coding of the DSM5.

6.) APA poorly thought out the proposal.

7.) 1st draft of the DSM5 was written sloppily.

8.) APA gave extension and wasted these extensions in many ways.

9.) The International Classification of Disease (ICD) World Health Organization in Geneva codes and modification may have been compromised.

10.) ICD-10 codes were written to align themselves with the DSM4. What codes will be written to align themselves with the DSM5?

11.) A window of opportunity will be missed to place a significant diagnosis on the list.

CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAITS OF NLD SYNDROME

1.) problems with time on tasks

2.) trouble with organizational skills

3.)  difficulty with scheduling, disorganized, cannot project or judge

4.) can’t put their thoughts on paper/written responses,  can talk the talk but cannot walk the walk, problems with productivity when it comes to paper tasks, expresses themselves eloquently

5.) difficulty getting started on a related task, needs to be jump started to initiate plans or on related task, problems in the areas of communication, difficulty multitasking, difficulty understanding what is relevant/irrelevant

6.) faulty spatial perception, problems with executive functions, difficulty being creative and can only think in black and white

7.) difficulty with motor impairment causing writing task to be grueling, slow

8.) difficulty with transition and adapting to change

9.) talks their way through the motor task

10.) they constantly talk their way in or out of a situation

11.)  gestalt impressions (they just don’t get the whole picture)

12.) Problems with their decision-making process which makes it very difficult to understand cause and effect.

13.) trouble with alignment

These characteristics and traits of NLD Syndrome resemble the American Psychiatric Association and their work in progress on the DSM5. We may begin to recognize NLD Syndrome is more common if consistent testing were done.

It SHOULD matter if it is my house, or your house, the poor house or the White House!  NLD could be rearing its head in recognition and striking very close to home. (DYNAMITE, DYNAMITE)  There are many unexplained behaviors which have revealed themselves in the past years to many who are RECOGNIZABLE.  Dr. Allen Frances, I hope this explains why the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is off task. This might even explain why NLD Syndrome has never been placed on the list. Sometimes a reflection of who we may resemble may keep us from looking directly into the mirror. It is the FEAR, SHAME, GUILT, and HUMILIATION of being found out. The American Psychiatric Association may not be as credible as we may expect them to be. Who truthfully is NLD? Who does NLD resemble? WHY is the American Psychiatric Association (APA) keeping NLD SYNDROME off their LIST (DSM5)?

Coming to an IMAX  Theatre in May 2013, in 3D, the DSM5–Hopefully

Recognition For Life

by Linda Ballard

When I first started using Twitter I was advocating for NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disability) to be put on the DSM5 and to be recognized by the Center of Disease Control (CDC), and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These are the WHO’s WHO list of health and disability. I wanted a community for support, testing, research, and schools to understand and make accommodations for Nonverbal Learning Disability. This would be an inclusive environment with recognition from home, to school, in the community, and our society for NLD and other unique learning styles with extraordinary minds. I want people to LEARN, LIVE, and SURVIVE. I want people to understand and know their QUALITY OF LIFE.

—————-

In a recent article by NPR, Autism Is Underestimated in South Korea, it may be more common than one thinks.  Autism is Mr. Umbrella of the Spectrum.  These neurological disorders are global and are being overlooked. At least Autism is recognizable and has a National Autism Society for inclusion. NLD, on the other hand, is unrecognized by the DSM4 and it leaves it no room for being a credible neuropsychological disorder.  Those who have been diagnosed with NLD Syndrome have unintentional behaviors and is not emotionally disturbed.

———————

Whether it is Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), on the list or not, I am going for RECOGNITION FOR A HUMAN LIFE. The new text message for RECOGNITION FOR LIFE is ESBL We, the parents, our children/adults EAT, SLEEP, BREATH, and LIVE these disorders and have earned our HONORARY DEGREE.

————-

This text blog message is dedicated to the American Psychiatric Association(APA), Dr. Regier and his task force team.

——————

NLD Mom/cancer survivor

Side by Side Play

by Linda Ballard

Mom took me to the playground.

All the children played.

Mom watched me very carefully.

She knows I have delays.

———-

Mom came up to me repeatedly.

I didn’t know how to react.

So I shook my head and flapped my arms.

I tried to interact.

———-

The children begin to surround me.

All I could do was stare.

Mom stepped right in immediately.

She helps me become aware.

———-

This is my big moment,

To make friends and try to choose.

This is my moment for reaching out.

I did not want to lose.

———-

Mom deals with all my social blunders

She truly understands.

She loves me and encourages me.

Mom tells me, YES YOU CAN.

———-

I became so frustrated.

My behaviors begin to manifest.

I started stumping, crying, and screaming.

Mom told me it was time to rest.

———-

The children became so frightened.

They all started running away.

I was puzzled and felt very empty inside.

This was a horrible day.

———-

Understanding the concept of making friends,

Made it difficult for the children to stay.

Mom wrapped her arms around me and whispered.

It is called side by side play.

———-

This is dedicated to all the Mothers with children that have extraordinary minds with unique abilities and multi-level learning styles on Mother’s Day, wishing you the best. This also goes out to all the children across the world who have difficulty developing friendships and relationships. Hang in there, you are not alone.

NLD Mom/cancer survivor

Easter Under The Umbrella For NLD

by Linda Ballard

Scene:  Sammy Spatial Relations and Fanny Faulty Perception explain why Nicky NLD does not want to participate in the Easter egg hunt. There are certain elements when activated within Nicky NLD which can bring out certain unwanted behaviors. This would be Nicky NLD’s beast. Sammy and Fanny are trying to figure out strategies and coping skills to help Nicky NLD.   Sammy wants to make the hunt easy for Nicky NLD and wants him to feel included.  Sammy Spatial Relations gives his view of his relationship with Nicky NLD for clarity and understanding. Fanny Faulty Perception wants people to understand what happens to Nicky NLD when he comes in contact with her family and other relatives.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

I’m glad you agreed to meet with me today. I appreciate you coming,  Sammy Spatial Relations. Is your back injury any better?

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Not really, but I have a good doctor. I could have prevented this injury from happening. I know better. Judging from the size and weight of that pipe I thought my body was in the clear. My timing was off and Roscoe was up next to put his parts in the car.  At Ford Motor Company the order of operation is crucial. If one person is off it screws up the whole line.  I’m so glad that wasn’t Nicky NLD out there on the line with me.  He would be wrapped up like the mummy.  It would be a 50 car pile up.  Nicky NLD hasn’t built any relationships with direction, time, space, quantity, shape, movement, volume, order,  and size. These are not Nicky NLD qualities. This is what I am good at. He can have a relationship with others but he will receive a lot of false information. He needs to build a relationship with his body and use his senses to gather information to make judgment calls. The more he interacts with his environment, the more he would remember by not having to ask for information. This would help strengthen his problem-solving skills.

He would understand cause and effect, stick to his schedule, and compare and find out what he likes and dislikes. He would know the difference.  Through the eyes of Nicky NLD, it is hard for him to discriminate differences (visual-spatial). He cannot make his body move smoothly and accurately. That is why people think he is clumsy and he bumps into people and objects all the time (motor-spatial). Nicky NLD can’t participate because it takes both visual and motor spatial skills to finish the activity. This garden is a maze to him.  He felt trapped. Your family was pretty hard on Nicky NLD. This is why he doesn’t want to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt. You and your crew didn’t understand. I get why Nicky NLD got so angry.  We are inseparable. I’m trying to help him with his deficits not bring him down in front of the whole world. The key to helping Nicky NLD is giving him support, acknowledging his achievements, and correcting his mistakes without beating him down and calling him out of his name.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

So you are singing Nicky’s praises once again to the tune of Natalie Cole’s Inseparable.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

What you are saying to me right now is the very reason why Nicky NLD took out the shears and turned your garden maze into chopped spinach greens.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

Nicky NLD went too far. My family teasing him didn’t last forever.  It was fun and short-lived. You know Anthony Acute Stress is quite fond of Nicky NLD. Acute stress is normal. Any information Nicky received or event that makes him feels unpleasant stresses him out. It wasn’t like it was work related or he was caught in a traffic jam.

Hey, Charles Chronic Stress could have started in on Nicky NLD. Talkabout getting really bad results! Charles Chronic Stress just keeps pushing those magic buttons and continues his stress act. He refuses to go away.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

You and I both know that acute and chronic stress are the two major causes of faulty perception. Fanny Faulty Perception this is you. STRESS!

Fanny Faulty Perception:

Come on Sammy Spatial Relations, a girl has to cause a little drama once in a while in her life. It’s the way people perceive me and think about me that causes the stress. You know I can’t do this on my own. We all have life stresses. It could be financial, relationships, work-related, or health issues. Look deep inside of me and you will find out what it all boils down to. The individual perception and his/her thinking get them all worked up. I told you on Twitter to handle your business before your business handles you. How long will Nicky NLD be mad at us?

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Nicky NLD just doesn’t pack his bags and go. He can empty the suitcase but the baggage will be there for a long time due to his memory. Your family is on his A-list and it will be years before it will move from the front to the back of his mind. I talked about what happens with Nicky NLD. We are still processing to this very day on ways to make the situation better.  This day is here once again. We have to find a better solution and minimize Nicky’s stress level. Did you invite your cousins Angela Anxiety, Pamela Panic Attack, and Sassy Suzy Stress?

Fanny Faulty Perception:

You know I did. It wouldn’t be a party without them.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Sassy Suzy Stress drives Nicky NLD up the wall. Around her, his stress doesn’t come out of the thin air. The air changes into the fog when he sees her. When she is out of sight his air is clear once again. Nostradamus can’t predict his stress level when panic, anxiety, and stress appears.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

I bought my dream car. The gas prices have gone up and now I’m stressed. I can’t afford the gas for this big 8 cylinder SUV.  I’m not selling my car. Maybe I should get another job. Sassy Suzy Stress is having work-related issues.  Anthony Acute Stress needs to cut back on his relationships. Three girlfriends are too much for him. Charles Chronic Stress has got health issues. Everything is wrong with him. I called Smokelbg up for some advice. She views this as an opportunity to learn. I like her advice but once out of her classroom, I will have a YouTube moment. The camera is rolling and I will be caught on tape doing something I feel I could have gotten away with. Anything or anyone can cause stress.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

The last time Nicky NLD visited Pamela Panic Attack, cousin to anxiety, it was disastrous. He was very uncomfortable and his heart sped up. He became cold one moment and hot the next. Nicky NLD tried to hide it but the fear was so intense it broke loose. I thought he was going to have a seizure but I was wrong. He complained of being nauseous. His hands begin to shake and perspiration covered his face. Nicky NLD said his stomach got queasy.  He shared with me what happened to his friend Tyrone Tourette when he hooked up with Pamela Panic Attack. Tyrone Tourette became light-headed and felt chest pains. He had shortness of breath and of course, his tics came out to play. Tyrone TS said Pamela Panic Attack is not the girl for him. He thought he was going to have a heart attack.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

How long did that last?

Sammy Spacial Relations:

Nicky NLD said the attacks didn’t last much longer than 10-15 minutes. He thought he was going crazy and his behavior would go over the cliff. As long as we provide him with coping skills and helpful strategies he will be equipped to handle the Easter Egg Hunt without any problems.

Fanny Faulty Perceptions:

How did things work out with Angela Anxiety?

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Angela Anxiety is kind of common. She always seems to recur. Nicky NLD doesn’t want her around She will show up if you are physically ill or if it is a mental illness. Angela Anxiety can offset your mood and your emotional tone. The more fear Nicky NLD has his mood and thinking will be affected. You know he loves sports, especially football.

He had to work so hard just to be able to play the game.  This physical activity will be gone once Nicky NLD gets upset.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

Have you met the rest of Angela Anxiety’s family?

Sammy Spatial Relations:

I met some of them, but not all of them. I know for a fact we cannot invite Alice Agoraphobia. If Nicky NLD comes in contact with her he may stop traveling or get to the point he is afraid to be alone in the house. She makes him hate crowded places. Do not place her on the list for the Easter Egg Hunt.  Fanny Faulty Perception does not try it. Nicky NLD probably won’t show up.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

We could invite Shirley Specific Phobia.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Are you crazy? Why do you think Nicky NLD was running around butt-naked at the last Easter Egg Hunt?  We are trying to minimize his stress level not make him act and think irrational.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

I thought he wanted to shed some skin and I love the dance he did on the table.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Shirley Specific Phobia brought her pet snake, spiders, bees, and bugs. The dance you thought he was doing, he was trying to smash them and escape like Houdini. Nicky NLD is okay with dogs, birds, and flying. His friend doesn’t like needle injections, storms, and he is scared of water. Andy Autism is not that crazy about heights, automobile driving, and rodents.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

So I guess she won’t be invited.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

NO!

Fanny Faulty Perception:

I might as well scratch Sandra Social Phobia off the list. Nicky NLD hasn’t quite gotten over Arnesha, In The Look of Love Valentine’s Day,  for drinking up all of the liquor. Arnesha and Sandra are SAD (social anxiety disorder).  They have that intense fear of embarrassing themselves, of losing their bowels and bladder, and people thinking they are crazy. We gave them plenty of notice that we were going to have this egg hunt. Weeks passed and Sandra got so worked up and just couldn’t pull it off.  Remember when her sister got her in front of a crowd and told Sandra had wet her pants. As she got older I thought she would get better.  Sandra never recovered from the hurt of embarrassment.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

We don’t need her and Nicky NLD shaking and sweating at the same time.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

We got Gerald Generalize Anxiety. He would be kind of the minimum anxiety disorder for Nicky NLD.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

I really don’t want any anxiety around for Nicky NLD. I don’t know Gerald Generalize Anxiety.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

He would make a person lose sleep, have muscle tension, poor concentration and cause the person to be tired.  I recall when Nicky NLD was younger, his mom referred to him as being over-anxious. Gerald Generalize Anxiety doesn’t hang out with panic disorder, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive orders or any other crew members. Now that Nicky

NLD is older he worries about his family, bills, and he drives me nuts talking about his girlfriend. Nicky NLD definitely doesn’t want Oscar OCD at the egg hunt.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Yeah, I heard about the squabble Tyrone Tourette and Oscar OCD have between them.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

OCD affects his friend Tyrone Tourette. Tyrone Ts was having tics and ended on the list (DSM-4) with Oscar OCD. Nicky NLD is still not on the list and it has made Tyrone Tourettes really angry. Oscar OCD has the NO NO THOUGHTS. These thoughts are grotesque,  forbidden, and very inappropriate, Oscar OCD own thoughts frighten him.

He is scared he may act upon his own impulsive thoughts. His thoughts are uncontrollable. He washes his hands a million times and ends up with dermatitis. Everyone and everything is contaminated. We are getting into the big league of anxiety and depression disorders. The risk gets high in Tyrone Tourette family. A lot of the people in his family develop OCD. Other mental disorders include people who pull their hair (trichotillomania), gambling, sexual behaviors, and shoplifting. Then you have the lesser of the evils. There are those who are obsessed with their looks.  They are either obsessed with the Barbie Doll factor/star in The Prince and The Frog.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

He’s out. No Easter Egg Hunt for Oscar OCD.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

You don’t want any of my family there.

Sammy Spatial Relations:

Baby, you cause stress and your family is big-time stress inducers.

Fanny Faulty Perception:

What about Aaron Acute and Pierre Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Sammy Spatial Relations:

This is trauma and drama at its finest. Within the first month, Aaron’s drama starts right after his trauma.  Aaron went to the bar on 13th Wilshire where he was robbed, beaten, and stabbed.  He witnessed the killing of the owner of the bar. After that, he was running around like he had amnesia. When I tried to talk to him about what happened, he was very evasive. It appears as if his mind separated from his body. His memory was so poor he acted as if he was on the soap, Another World. Gerald General Anxiety came to visit. Aaron Acute Traumatic Stress took flight and fought any recall, flashback or dream that would be a friendly reminder to his hurt and pain. The acute stress persisted for three months.  He later was upgraded to post-traumatic stress.  Pierre Post Traumatic Stress lasted 6 more months. He started going downhill fast. Pierre is listed on the DSM4 as having low self-esteem, trouble in his relationships, permanently damaged goods, loss of hope in society and people. Pierre Post Traumatic Stress has started boozing and doing drugs. Well, I think in order to help Nicky NLD, you and your family will not be invited. Nicky NLD needs to be surrounded by people who will support, respect and stand with him. Your family just doesn’t have those qualities.

Advisory Alert: To the House and Senate Committee

In this story today there are those who have stood by the wayside and offered no moral support but were stress inducers. Our government has done the same. This story reveals characteristics and traits of people who had no common interest in the individual only to set the individual up for failure. Our government has done the same.

It is pointed out in the story how the character was ridiculed and disrespected. Our government has done the same. The story indicates how others have their own agenda to address their own issues. Our government has done the same. It opens the doorway for those in government who entertain the NO NO THOUGHTS to seek help, not act impulsively and destroy their homes and lives so the American People can maintain an ounce of dignity for those who are left in office. It is very hard to maintain the trust and respect of our government if the government continues to maintain the lack of dignity and respect of those in elected positions and others.

Our government has to learn to use the word NO in a positive format.   This word alone, NO, can reduce anxiety, panic, stress, and depression. NO can save lives.

It is time for our government to seek out the necessary help to once again become a healthy country, with a healthy heart, and a healthy mind.

SmokeLBG