Use Every Tool Available to You Without Shame
For Elizabeth, math never made much sense. As early as elementary school, she remembers sitting in class completely lost. “I just didn’t know what they were talking about,” she recalls. Instead of asking questions, she would drift into daydreams, tuning out the numbers and instructions that never seemed to click.
When teachers told her mother that Elizabeth simply wasn’t very smart, her mother refused to accept it. She fought for answers, and by third grade, Elizabeth was diagnosed with learning, written expression, and auditory processing disabilities. Her first diagnostic test was actually enjoyable for her—no instructions, just solving problems in her own way. That moment stood out because it was the first time learning had felt freeing instead of frustrating.
From that point on, Elizabeth entered a smaller, specialized classroom. Although many of the other students were there for behavioral reasons, she knew her struggles were different. With the support of her family, private tutors, and daily practice through games, Elizabeth grew up knowing she processed math differently—but also knowing she was supported.
How Dyscalculia Shaped Her Life
Despite early intervention, dyscalculia still placed limits on Elizabeth’s academic and career aspirations. Her dream was to become an archaeologist, but she knew college-level math stood in the way. “I couldn’t pass college algebra,” she said, describing how she attempted it five times. Despite dedicated effort and support from instructors, the course’s focus on memorization and strict rules—without access to calculators—was overwhelming.
What Elizabeth didn’t know at the time was that she might have qualified for accommodations under her Individualized Education Plan (IEP). “I didn’t realize I could tell the college,” she said. That lack of information closed a door that might have been opened with just a little more advocacy.
Instead, Elizabeth redirected her career path and became a paramedic—a job where numbers still matter, but where she’s created workarounds and strategies to make it manageable.
Strategies That Keep Her Going
Elizabeth has developed an impressive toolkit to compensate for her dyscalculia. One of the most critical is her ability to advocate for herself. At work, she doesn’t hesitate to ask colleagues to be quiet while she takes a blood pressure reading, as background noise can scramble her ability to retain numbers.
Memorizing numbers—like addresses during an emergency dispatch—isn’t reliable, so she immediately writes them down and double-checks for accuracy. In high-stress situations where she must calculate medication dosages, Elizabeth uses the counting strategies she learned as a child, like skip counting by 5s and 10s, and applies them to a context she understands: money. If a dose corresponds to a patient’s weight, she equates that with how many “dollars” it would be, helping her make accurate estimations under pressure.
Even her financial management follows this system—rounding bills up to the nearest 10 to ensure she has enough to cover expenses. For verification, she still depends on her bank or partner to review numbers she enters, as her own input may not always match what she intended.
Other adaptations include:
- Always writing things down to reinforce memory
- Setting appointments 15 minutes early to manage anxiety around time
- Grouping cash into consistent units (like $10 bundles) for easier counting
- Using calculators and visual tools like step-by-step cookbooks or GPS apps with audio cues
She also relies on extensive study methods to retain information: reading, highlighting, note-taking, flashcards, and repeated practice. Interestingly, Elizabeth finds learning new languages easier than learning math, and wonders if the part of her brain that struggles with numbers is balanced by strengths in other areas.
Advocating for Others and Herself
One of the most impactful lessons Elizabeth has learned is the importance of self-advocacy. “If people don’t know you’re struggling, they can’t help you,” she says. That’s why she’s passionate about educating others about dyscalculia—a learning difference that’s often invisible and misunderstood.
Her advice to others is practical and empathetic: “Use every tool available to you without shame. Pen and paper. Calculators. Step-by-step guides. Audio instructions. Whatever helps you get through the day—use it. We’re not in school anymore being tested; we’re just trying to survive.”
She also reflects on how educators and parents can better support kids like her:
- Be patient and understanding—math can be mentally exhausting
- Reward effort, not just outcomes
- Break problems into small, manageable steps
- Avoid public embarrassment over test scores or mistakes
- Recognize that invisible disabilities are still real
Perhaps the most powerful advice she would give her younger self is: “You’re still going to be successful in life. You’re just going to have to work a little harder.”
The Bigger Picture
Elizabeth’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t look the same for everyone. While dyscalculia may never go away, it doesn’t have to define a person’s limitations. With the right tools, self-awareness, and support systems, people with learning differences can not only survive—they can thrive.