Amy Temple – Writer And Blogger

Amy Temple, writer, and blogger, from Indiana, currently resides in Florida. She published a memoir, “I Am Not Stupid“. She was kind enough to enlighten us with her personality and how she has managed to do so well despite her learning disabilities.
“There have been so many myths about learning disabilities, and that is why I felt compelled to write this book. I’ve personally have had to deal with these myths. I’ve had people tell me to my face that I won’t amount to much. That’s made me angry at times. But guess what? I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do…which is writing.”

 

About Amy

I was born and raised in Indiana. Along with my high school diploma, I have two secretarial certifications: general and medical. I am a freelance writer/blogger specializing in inspirational writing. I have been self-employed as a dog sitter for 13 years.

I write regularly for several websites nationally and internationally including

www.justsuminspiration.com  and the Learning Disabilities Association’s

About her learning disabilities

I was diagnosed with learning disabilities when I was 5. Overall it’s your typical learning disability. I can pick up information fairly quickly but being able to maintain it can be a different story. It doesn’t affect my intelligence nor my abilities to be independent. My mathematical abilities are affected. Let’s just say…I am very grateful for the calculator! My fine motor skills are affected.

Tying my shoes is difficult so I find it’s easier to wear shoes with Velcro or slip-on. I have the handwriting of a child. It’s more legible if I write in all caps. I can type over 60+ words per minute but I use just the first two or three fingers with the rest laying on the keyboard.

My parents were told that I would not amount to anything. I would never be able to be independent. I would always live on welfare. Basically, I was considered a lost cause. Mom and Dad never believed any of it and made sure that I got the best education I could. They have always been quick to come to my defense and have always been encouraging and supportive in whatever I have decided to do. Hence, they have never sheltered me but have made me see and experience the real world.

 

Advice to parents of children suffering from learning disabilities:

The one thing that I would tell parents of children with learning disabilities is not to shelter them. Let them experience the real world for themselves.
I wish to pass on something that my dad said to me once: I had a rather embarrassing encounter with someone who discriminated against me because of my learning disabilities. After I was done vetting, Dad pointed a finger at me and with a very serious look on his face said, “Remember. You are not second class. The ones who treat you like you are…they are the ones who are second class.”