Explaining intellectual disability

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Did you learn how to write well from posting on forums? How early did you start posting on forums?

I didn't start posting on forums until 2010 or 2011, but I think I communicate my thoughts bester from posting on forums.

Can you tell me what two teen forums you are on? (please)

For the majority of things i.e doing homework or getting to class I require stimulation.
I.E my mum constantly telling me to do it, as I do not remember to do it after a few seconds.
I now very much like the word "oy", it has an awesome sound.
Also, for getting to class, if there is no bell or other people are not moving or if I have forgotten my schedule, then I will just wonder around the school till someone notices and escorts me.
I have trouble staying in some lessons, if we are doing PE at my school instead of somewhere else then I will walk out if there are people I do not like and wonder around the school.
Often I get stressed and to calm myself down I walk in circles and count my footsteps, one such eloquent gentleman pointed out to me that: "you're a f***in weirdo" when I was doing this.
People tend to leave me alone if they aren't bullying / making fun out of me.

Well, I have often thought, that you reason far better than most. You have an impressively deep insight and knowledge for a 13 old.

this puts into better words what was thinking.
jensens points is exactly why am of the belief that EzraS isnt intelectualy disabled as we do not have that reasoning level, insight nor knowledge as children/teens.
purely from reader opinion it sounds like a presentation of specific learning difficulties/disabilities under the american definition but not intelectual disability.

I only started posting 6 months ago right after I turned 13 (because that's the youngest they accept on the teen forums). I guess I learned to write the way I do from lots and lots of reading and watching higher end stuff on TV. I've watched documentaries and news shows since I was really little.



Well thank you. I'm always surprised to hear stuff like that, because I usually feel clueless
and derpy about what I post and that everyone around my age addressees issues better than me.



I'm sure now that I'm not using the right term. But academically I am way behind my age group.
Anything that has to do with math or formulas or solving riddles or puzzles, or anything like that, gets really badly muddled in my head and I can't do it at all. I have been clearly with diagnosed dyspraxia, dyslexia and discalcula, so I mean that is my biggest problem in cyphering things like I listed above.

And anyone who wonders about my dyslexia based on my posting, wouldn't if they saw how slowly I type and how many corrections I have to make before pushing submit. And then I usually have to hit the edit button and do more repairs.

(Note: Have done a total of 8 edits since submitting this so far, plus a bazillion spellcheck corrections)

Intellectual disability is a political correct term for "mental retardation" (clearly, you do not fall into that category). I have an IQ of almost 150, but I still fall in the sub-normal range when it comes to verbal language skills--and I do not get sayings or idioms just like that (I can, however, remember when to use them).

You use a different part of your brain when writing than you do when talking. This is why many autistics are excellent writers.

@Ezra,
thought so it presents like the american definition of specific learning disabilities,if it was intelectual disability woud not be in debate and philosophy classes.
am surprised they are not accomodating enough though, dyslexia, dyspraxia etc are recognised disabilities under the ADA.

@kurgan,
politicaly correct term for mentaly ret*d? there is no political correctness in changing it-its about having the right meaning and respect for those of us who are directly affected by it.
in america for the past several years many organisations have been already refering to it as intelectual disability to get used to the diagnostic change in the DSM manual; it was changed to ID last year along with all forms of autism being merged into autism,but most people in the autistic community missed the ID change and still refer to its prehistoric outdated,dehumanising,offensive and incorrect term.

so is calling aspergers; autism politicaly correct?

I get your point, but I don't see why "ret*d" is offensive. One day intellectual disability will be an offensive term as well. I don't know how it is in the US or UK, but in Norway, over the course of 50 years, the politically correct term has gone from "oligophrenia", to the catch-all term "brain damaged", to "mentally ret*d", to "brain damaged" again, to "psychologigally developmentally delayed", to "developmentally delayed", and lastly to "general learning disability". Once the politically correct term becomes offensive, it will have to be renamed to something new again.

Rather than giving it a new name every decade, society should do more to normalize, de-institutionalize, and include those with an intellectual disability. A new reform was passed in the early 1990's in Norway, and so far, it's been successful in giving people with intellectual disability a better life.



Depends. People are gradually realizing that autism isn't synonymous with Rain Man, so in a way, it carries less stigma to be "autistic" today than it did a decade ago.

Oh I'm not in any kind of classes like that. I meant debate and philosophy stuff that happens on the two other
internet discussion forums I'm a member of.



I have always been classified as developmentally disabled and special needs. I always went to special school for developmentally disabled until last year. And it was my choice to try regular school. Also have had lots of different therapy, and a psychologist, special pediatrician etc.

I have always tested as significantly below grade level in almost every area including emotionally, socially and i think physically also.

Me too on all of that, except for reading comprehension and memory which I excel at.

Except for when it comes to complex stuff like politics, philosophy, religion, psychology - then I am >.< confused.

Last edited by EzraS on 04 Mar 2014, 2:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

Verry merry berry interesting brain you have, Ezra, to be good at reading and writing and learning these things so well on your own, while having trouble in other areas like math and puzzles. You seem to have social insights too. Did you learn those from tv and reading too?

No idea. I'm not self aware of that. Just know about it from what people say.
I will say that a lot of certain words and phrases I use, can remember exactly where I heard it.
There are many more social questions that get asked that I have no idea how to answer than not.

I have been following this thread as it gives me GREAT hope for my own son, who has been "diagnosed" with autism, intellectual disability and dyspraxia. He is still nonverbal but seems to be understanding more these days. He cannot do simple inset puzzles but just recently learned to complete a shape sorter. I honestly don't know if he does not "get it" or if he is just uninterested or is unable to finish a task because he is inattentive and distracted. I have a feeling that he will eventually earn the label "ADHD", too.

I think all of you are fine people and I am quite shocked at how you consider yourselves "challenged" despite having such a wonderful ability to express your thoughts & feelings. You have all given me great great great hope for my little boy. Maybe one day he will communicate with me by writing to me, even if he chooses not to talk.

Thank you all again for this thread.

LOL! nice post

Yeah I felt the same way when I first joined WP. My ASD daughter used to be non-communicative and still has problems expressing herself. Many of the folks here don't realise how lucky they are; despite having ASD they write so beautifully.