Living With an Invisible Learning Disability | Michelle Steiner’s Story
What happens when people tell you that your learning disability may limit what you can achieve? In this episode of My Sibling is Autistic, Michelle Steiner shares her experience growing up with learning disabilities, including dyscalculia, visual perception challenges, and limited hand dexterity. She opens up about struggling in school, being bullied, finding confidence through writing, and dealing with people who questioned whether she could succeed in college. Michelle also shares how accommodations, family support, tutoring, and learning to advocate for herself helped change her educational experience. Despite being told that college might not be for her, she eventually earned her bachelor’s degree and now works as a paraeducator, helping students with disabilities build the confidence to ask for the support they need. The conversation also explores Michelle’s relationship with her younger brother, their 13-year age gap, and how her family helped him understand that his sister’s brain simply worked and learned differently. Today, Michelle uses her lived experience to encourage students and others with disabilities to understand that needing support does not make them less capable. Subscribe to My Sibling is Autistic for more real conversations about disabilities, neurodiversity, sibling relationships, family, advocacy, and lived experiences.