I have found though that the key to my memory success is writing it down. I have checklists for just about everything: what to do in the morning, what to do before I go home, what is expected for each little part of the day (there are a million things we cover at circle and I usually forget one of those things). And in doing this, this simple little thing, my life feels just a little easier. I can rest easier knowing that if I completely blank out I've got a list for it. But the more lists I've made, the more I've found....I'm forgetting less. It's so funny how the brain works.
It also amazes me that some of these strategies are the same ones I use with my kiddos on the autism spectrum. A co-worker friend pointed out that my lists are a visual schedule. We use pictures with our 3-5 year olds who clearly can't read but print is also a visual schedule. She sorta blew my mind when she reminded me of this. It puts my disability into a new perspective. I hate identifying myself as disabled because I feel totally normal. But it truly is a disability and overcoming my ACC can be just as hard but also just as rewarding as finding ways to cope with autism or down syndrome or anything else.
For me, I have a new perspective on working with children and families with disabilities as I walk through my own journey. Thankfully I have not let my ACC diagnosis (or the 28 years of being undiagnosed) stop me. I have pretty much accomplished any goal I set out to. From graduating high school and college to moving to North Carolina and becoming a teacher to now applying for grad school (I've not been accepted yet...but I know I won't rest until I am). I've always felt like these were things that meant a little more to me because I worked a little harder for it. My brother was considered gifted in school and academics came much easier to him but I always had to work my @$$ off. Then I graduated college with honors. And I'm not sure if it's clear enough to read but my parents totally got me a cake that said "With Honors". It was a big deal and something that did not come easily so we really celebrated it. My dad reminds me all the time that this perspective and ability to relate to these children and families can serve me to be a better teacher.
It's not always been easy and certainly my first several years of teaching were not easy and I didn't know why. I didn't understand why the one thing I wanted the most in my life just wasn't working out for me. I actually left teaching for several months but my heart told me to go back, and I made adjustments to enjoy it more. I'm confident that now with my ACC diagnosis and the assistance I'm getting I will be the teacher my 5 year old self knew I was meant to be.
The moral of the story is that you can be anything you set out to be. It doesn't matter what you're up against because we are all up against something. We all face challenges but in different ways. For us ACCers it can be hard to look at us and know that our brains just work differently and its not something that is necessary to disclose at work. But there are simple ways to help yourself without anyone thinking differently of you. The office in my classroom is now full of notes "AM checklist" "PM checklist" "checklist to do on in-service days" "remember to bring xyz thing for xyz child" and its only November, so who even knows what it will look like in June! The point is find a system that works for you and you can achieve all your dreams!
Signing off for now,
Jamie
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