Abilities

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<span class="title">Abilities</span> <span class="author">by Nolan and Sam</span>

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1 in 5 people have learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. Chances are someone you know has this kind of “invisible” disability. Kids who learn and think differently are just as smart as their classmates. But many are misunderstood. They don’t get the help they need. People tell them to “just try harder.” But that’s like telling someone who needs glasses to just squint harder. Without support, they’re more likely to drop out of school and be out of work as adults. But with the right support, they can thrive in school and in life. ''Click [[START]] to see what it feels like to learn and think differently.''

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[[Scenarios taken from Understood|https://www.understood.org/]] Adapted to Twine by Nolan and Sam [[OpenDyslexic Font by Abbie Gonzalez|https://opendyslexic.org]] [[Dyslexia Macro by Sjoerd Hekking's|https://github.com/SjoerdHekking/custom-macros-sugarcube2/tree/main/Dyslexia]] [[Synesthesia photos|http://www.synesthesiatest.org/types-of-synesthesia]] Art Direction: Nham Wongpradu Illustrator: Panpong Wongsirasawad

You will play as three different students. Who will you learn about first? [[Meet Bob.]] He has dyslexia. [[Meet Mary.]] She has ADHD. [[Meet Sam.]] They have sensory processing issues. [[And then there's synesthesia|Synesthesia Start]]

<div class="animated_rainbow_1">Synesthesia is a rare sensory trait shared by about 4% of the population, and it comes in many forms. People who “see” or associate letters and numbers with specific colors have grapheme-color synesthesia, and it’s the most common form. Other forms of synesthesia involve seeing or feeling musical notes as colors or textures, having visualized representations of time, and in rare cases, even tasting words.</div> [[There are different types of synesthesia|Grapheme-Color]]

Some fonts can help dyslexic people read better. In fact, you can even change the font of this game to OpenDyslexic if you click on Settings. Bob could be helped if his teachers/parents give him: -Step-by-step instructions on the basics of reading, with each concept mastered before moving on. -Different ways for people to show what they know, like speaking rather than doing a written report. -Technology like audiobooks and text-to-speech to level the playing field. [[Meet Mary.]] She has ADHD. [[Meet Sam.]] They have sensory processing issues. [[And then there's synesthesia|Synesthesia Start]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/657c4213163103.5627138cd05e3.gif" width="250px"> This is one of the most common types of synesthesia. A person who experiences this may associate/see individual letters or numbers with a specific color. Usually, two people won’t report the same color for letters and numbers. However, studies have shown that many synesthetes will see some letters the same way (for example, ‘A‘ is likely to be red). [[There is Number-Form synesthesia|Number-Form]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/dd490713163103.562713d37b4bd.gif" width="250px"> A number form is essentially a mental map that consists of numbers. When a person with number-form synesthesia thinks about numbers, a number map is involuntarily visualized. It is sometimes suggested that the number forms are a product of “cross-activation” between regions in the parietal lobe – a part of the brain that is involved in numerical and spatial cognition. [[There is Personification synesthesia|Personification]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/86134013163103.562713d3b1543.gif" width="250px"> This type is known as ordinal-linguistic personification, or OLP. An individual who experiences this will associate ordered sequences with various personalities. Ordered sequences may include numbers, letters, months and so on. For example, a person with OLP may look at the letter ‘A’ and think in his mind that ‘A’ is a rude letter. [[There is Sound-to-Color synesthesia|Sound-to-Color]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/cf7c4e13163103.5627128f1da75.gif" width="250px"> When sound triggers the visualization of colored, generic shapes, sound-to-color synesthesia is at play. For certain people, the stimuli are limited, and only a few types of sounds will trigger a perception. However, there are cases wherein many different sounds trigger color visualizations. Usually, the perceived colors appear in generic shapes – squares, circles, etc. [[There is Lexical-Gustatory synesthesia|Lexical-Gustatory]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/907a5b13163103.562713f6513cf.gif" width="250px"> Lexical-gustatory synesthesia is one of the more rare synesthesia types. Synesthetes who experience this kind of synesthesia evoke different kinds of tastes when they hear certain words or phonemes. According to research, associations between the words and what a synesthete is able taste are constrained by tastes he or she has experienced early in life. So, if an individual hasn’t had mashed potatoes or bacon, they won’t be tasting those flavors as a result of this variation. [[But there are things that Mary's teachers can do to help her with her synesthesia|Synesthesia help]]

There’s no treatment for synesthesia. Anecdotally, many people seem to enjoy perceiving the world in a different way than the general population. On the other hand, some synesthetes feel that their condition isolates them from others. They may have trouble explaining their sensory experiences because they are very different. Finding communities of other synesthetes online may help ease this feeling of isolation. Speaking with a mental health professional may also help you to see the value synesthesia can add to your life. Instead of having a dominant side of your brain — right or left — you may find that both sides of your brain harmonize nicely as you pursue work you’re passionate about. https://www.healthline.com/health/synesthesia https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/synesthesia/what-is-synesthesia-disorder-and-how-to-cope-with-it/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/synesthesia https://elemental.medium.com/what-color-is-your-name-a-new-synesthesia-project-will-show-you-51bb3f0dc638 https://blog.prototypr.io/does-your-name-match-your-personality-it-might-depending-on-what-color-it-is-f8bb623b66c1 https://synesthesia.me/see-your-name [[Meet Bob.]] He has dyslexia. [[Meet Mary.]] She has ADHD. [[Meet Sam.]] They have sensory processing issues.

Mary could be helped with: Fidgets and movement breaks to help with things like staying seated and finishing tasks Strategies for coping with anxiety, which is common in people with ADHD Treatments like ADHD medication or behavior therapy [[Meet Bob.]] He has dyslexia. [[Meet Sam.]] They have sensory processing issues. [[And then there's synesthesia|Synesthesia Start]]

Meet Bob, an eighth grader with dyslexia. He’s a smart kid, but his trouble with reading affects almost every aspect of his day. Dyslexia is a common learning difference that makes reading hard. Dyslexia has nothing to do with how smart someone is. It’s also not a problem with vision. It’s caused by differences in the brain. <<dyslexia>>This is what dyslexia looks like.<</dyslexia>> Kids don’t outgrow dyslexia, and their trouble with reading can affect how they behave in school. They may act out to avoid reading out loud or to avoid admitting they don’t know the answer to a question. People sometimes misunderstand dyslexia, like thinking kids just need to try harder. But with the right teaching and support, kids can overcome reading challenges and thrive in school and in life. To see how dyslexia can impact kids, take a look at a typical day in Bob’s life. [[6:15am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Alarm_Clock_GIF_Animation_High_Res.gif" > Bob turns off the alarm, but he doesn’t want to get out of bed. After years of being stared at and overhearing comments about how slow and painful his reading is, he dreads the thought of going to school. He stayed home a few days ago because of a stomachache, and he wishes he could stay home again and de-stress. [[9:30am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BackSplendidAnkole-max-1mb.gif" width="250px"> Bob isn’t ready for today’s history class. He tried to finish his homework, but reading takes so much time and effort that he only got through a few paragraphs. And because it took him so long to read each sentence, he had trouble understanding how those sentences fit together. He’s listening carefully to the teacher and struggling to take a few messy notes. The test on Thursday is going to be rough. [[10:45am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://c.tenor.com/tqERWt8lBYEAAAAS/calculating-puzzled.gif" width="300px"> Bob is good at math except for the word problems. They take forever to read. That makes it hard for him to remember the details and decide what to do with them. He often makes a simple mistake — like switching two numbers or mixing up the sequence of steps. So he gets the wrong answer even though he understands the concepts. [[12:15pm]]

It’s hard for Bob to relax during lunch. He’s either cramming in homework or running around campus trying to meet up with teachers for extra help. Today he’s looking over flashcards for his French vocabulary test. He drills and drills, but somehow it still feels like he’s looking at these words for the first time. The same thing happens when he studies for other classes. Why won’t these words “stick”? [[1:45pm]]

<section class="paper">\ <article class="paperheader"></article>\ <div class="papertext"><<dyslexia>>Laissez-moi vous raconter l’histoire d'un Poulet. Ses amis l’appellent Petit Poulet. Petit Poulet vit dans une petite maison de poulet normale, dans une petite ville normale. Il n’est ni grand, ni petit. Il n’est ni gros, ni maigre. Il n’est ni intelligent ni stupide. Petit Poulet est un poulet tout à fait normal. Par une matinée tout à fait normale, Petit Poulet mange son petit-déjeuner dans la cuisine. Il aime les toasts avec du beurre et le café à la crème. Il lit les nouvelles. Il voit une histoire terrifiante avec un titre terrifiant, qui dit : LE CIEL EST EN TRAIN DE TOMBER !<</dyslexia>> </div>\ </section> French class is the worst! Bob has trouble following spelling rules for English — how is he supposed to spell words in another language that has different sounds? Plus the teacher makes everyone read out loud. When Bob senses he’s about to get called on, he figures out how to cut class. He’s learned the hard way that it’s better to hide out in the restroom than to say something rude to the teacher and get sent to the principal’s office. [[2:10pm]]

Chorus is the one thing Bob likes about school. Sight-reading the music is tough, but he can learn the pieces by listening to them. And it feels awesome when people tell him what a great voice he has. But he worries that if he has to take another remedial class, he won’t have room in his schedule for any electives. If he couldn’t participate in chorus, school would be a total drag. [[4:40pm]]

<<speech "You" "Bob">>What are you up to?<</speech>> <<speech "Sam">><<dyslexia>>chlln wit matt @ bout 8ish. wnt 2 join?<</dyslexia>><</speech>> <<speech "You" "Bob">>Nah, I'm kind of busy. Have to study.<</speech>> Texting is stressful. It takes Bob a long time to figure out which words his friends are abbreviating. His trouble with reading and spelling makes it hard for him to be part of the conversation. [[8:00pm]]

<section class="paper">\ <article class="paperheader"></article>\ <div class="papertext"><<dyslexia>> In the American Revolution the Americans won the war after a long fight against the British. They were helped by the French and after the war, they became one of the first democracies ever. George Washington was their first president, and now the U.S. has been functioning the same way for almost 250 years. <</dyslexia>> </div>\ </section> Bob’s grandma keeps nagging him to finish his essay. His spelling is so bad that sometimes the autocorrect can’t figure out what he’s trying to say. Proofreading is hard for him too — he doesn’t notice errors, so he needs his grandma to look his essay over to be sure it makes sense. She’s trying to help, but he can tell that she doesn’t always understand how hard he tries. Sometimes she thinks he’s being lazy. But homework just takes him a lot longer than it takes other kids. [[midnight]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://t4.ftcdn.net/jpg/04/15/16/75/360_F_415167562_drI7w9xsiAuDvSsGUL9jko9YkR31Ifnm.jpg"> Bob’s main way of “escaping” his dyslexia is by playing video games. It’s late and he’s tired. But he needs to unwind. Tomorrow will be another long day. [[How can Bob's teachers help him?|Dyslexia help]]

Meet Mary, a seventh grader with ADHD . She’s a smart kid, but it’s hard for her to stay focused. Hyperactivity and self-control are also major challenges. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common. But the way it affects people is more complicated than many people realize. It’s caused by differences in the brain , and it often runs in families. There are three types of ADHD. Kids with the inattentive type may seem “daydreamy.” (This type of ADHD used to be called ADD.) Some kids mainly have trouble with hyperactivity and impulse control. But Mary struggles with all of these. This combined type is the most common kind of ADHD. Having ADHD doesn’t mean people aren’t smart. Most kids don’t outgrow it. But with the right support, they can thrive in school and in life. To understand some of the ways ADHD affects kids, take a look at a day in Mary’s life. [[7:09am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://addvantageslearningcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/alarm-clock.jpg" width="500px"> Mary has a really tough time waking up. ADHD makes it hard for her to fall asleep, and it affects the quality of her sleep too. She’s so tired she doesn’t notice her alarm blaring. When she finally gets up, she isn’t fully awake — she’s in a “twilight state” that can last for hours. Getting ready for school is a huge struggle for her and her family. [[9:35am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://evergreenleadership.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Mindfull.png"> Ugh, science lab. Mary is interested in the experiments, but she can never remember what she’s supposed to do. She already asked a classmate what the second step was. But she doesn’t want to be annoying and ask about the third step too. Mary is also distracted by the way the safety goggles look and feel. [[10:50am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://www.nicepng.com/png/detail/49-497188_different-brain-in-heads-blank-brain.png" width="200px"> The first question on the math test was easy, but the second one was hard. Now her mind is racing: “What if I fail? What will I tell Mom and Dad? What will the teacher say?” Her brain feels like it’s popping like popcorn. Then her mind kind of goes blank as she stares out the window. [[12:30pm]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Young-girl-being-bullied-at-school.jpg" width="300px"> Mary wants to fit in, but she keeps breaking social rules. Her friends complain: “Mary, stop interrupting!” “Stop being so nosy!” “Stop telling the same story AGAIN!” Her mood swings from very happy to deeply worried that she’ll become a social outcast. She also tends to snack a lot when she’s upset — even past the point where she feels really full. [[1:40pm]]

Last week, Mary was bursting with ideas about the group project. But she forgot to finish the part she was supposed to do. She tries to listen to the teacher, but she keeps “spacing out.” She taps her pen and shakes her legs to help stay focused. But these movements often annoy the people around her. [[4:30pm]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://www.sportsver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Little-girl-playing-flag-football.jpg" width="250px"> Flag football! Mary has fun — even though she’s always late. She knows all the plays really well. And she knows that exercise will help her focus on her homework later. It’s also nice being around kids who don’t go to her school. This is the one place where she doesn’t feel like a failure. [[6:00pm]]

After flag football, one of Mary’s teammates asks to walk home with her. She’s thrilled because he’s a cool kid who always makes her laugh. While they’re waiting at an intersection, he surprises her by spray-painting a wall. Then he hands her the can so she can add to the design. She doesn’t stop to think about whether they might get in trouble. [[10:15pm]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://yourteenmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Depositphotos_48453531_l-2015-1135x540.jpg" width="500px"> Mary’s big essay is due tomorrow. She always has trouble getting started, but she also thinks she works better under pressure. She’ll stay up extra late to finish and will be a total zombie tomorrow. But right now her deadline is helping her focus like a laser beam. She doesn’t even hear her mom yelling to get her attention. [[How can Mary's teachers help her?|ADHD Help]]

Meet Sam, a first grader with sensory processing issues . They're a bright kid, but their sensory differences are often misunderstood by teachers and family members. Their brain — like everyone else’s — gets a nonstop stream of information from the senses. Many people can tune out some of this, like the way their socks are touching their toes. But Sam has trouble filtering it out. People with sensory processing issues can be much more sensitive to what they hear, see, smell, taste, or touch. They can be much less sensitive, too, like not feeling cold or pain. To see how these challenges can affect kids, take a look at a typical day in Sam’s life. [[6:14am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://www.quickfitblindsandcurtains.com.au/product_images/uploaded_images/sunlight-through-window.jpg" width="400px"> The sunlight coming through Sam’s curtains wakes them up before their alarm. The light is bright and irritating. Sam hides under the blankets. But they worry that if they fall back asleep, the loud beeping of their alarm clock will surprise them. They wait and turn it off a minute before the alarm goes off so they don’t have to deal with the noise. [[7am]]

Sam puts on the clothes they picked out the night before. But the tags are too itchy. They insist on wearing their favorite soft T-shirt and pants even though they’re dirty. At breakfast, Sam wants the milk in a cup so they can pour it on their cereal a little at a time. Otherwise the flakes will get soggy and feel gross in their mouth. [[7:30am]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://cdn.glitch.global/1a5e7326-adc2-4d2d-b0c6-6322cc12334c/missed bus.jpeg?v=1649858402082" width="300px"> Sam needs to get to the bus stop on time, but they're struggling to put on their coat and tie their shoes. They kind of hope they’ll miss the bus. It’s always so loud and crowded, and it’s hard to find a seat where they won’t feel squished by other kids. [[10am]]

Sam loves writing stories in school. But they keep getting distracted when they see other students walking down the hallway. They're also feeling out of sorts and is having trouble staying in their seat. They ask their teacher if they can move to a desk away from the classroom door and put a wiggle cushion on her chair. [[Noon]]

At lunchtime, the teacher doesn’t understand why Sam won’t go into the cafeteria. The smell of meatball sandwiches doesn’t bother the teacher or the other kids. But Sam gets overwhelmed by it — and by trying to explain why they can’t go in, they have a meltdown and end up eating in the school office after they calm down. [[4pm]]

<img class="fit-picture" src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2018/03/15/gettyimages-119704958-8f313d6cc167ec55acd9bd46150bf0f423a159b2.jpg" width="400px"> At the playground, Sam has fun climbing and jumping off the equipment and running around with their friends. They also love doing somersaults on the grass. All that tumbling makes them feel calmer. When someone points out that their knee is scraped and bleeding, Sam remembers that they fell down. But at the time it didn’t hurt, so they kept playing. [[6pm]]

It’s taco night, but Sam doesn’t like mixing all those textures and tastes. They keep their favorite ingredients in different sections of their plate so they can eat them separately. When Mom tries to make them eat some refried beans, Sam protests — they say mushy food makes them gag. [[7:30pm]]

Sam keeps standing outside the shower because the water temperature isn’t right. Mom says it’s fine, but it feels too hot to Sam. Plus, it’s a hair-washing night. That means slimy shampoo and painful combing afterward. Sam starts to get upset, but they calm down when Mom says they can skip shampooing. They dry off using the fluffy towel they like. Having toothpaste that isn’t “too spicy” also helps bedtime go more smoothly. [[How can Sam's teachers help them?|Sensory Help]]

Sam's teachers and parents can help them by using strategies like removing clothing tags, dimming the lights, or using noise-cancelling headphones. They could also give Sam fidgets or chewing gum to help sensory seekers maintain a "just right" state. Lastly, quiet spaces and advance warning about cahnges in routine could help Sam. [[Meet Bob.]] He has dyslexia. [[Meet Mary.]] She has ADHD. [[And then there's synesthesia|Synesthesia Start]]