Demoralizing.

[Beneyriey]

Hello,

I don't really know how to start. Earlier today, I went to this personal independent thing (typically, I wasn't quite sure what it was about, as I didn't read the letter properly), but what I didn't realize was the fact that the person assessing you had to ask you personal questions. Now, the one hour that I had with him was the most demoralizing and quite frankly degrading moment of my life He asked me questions like 'do you socialize with friends and other people often?'. My Mum of course decided to come with me (as she probably thinks that I am old enough to move out!), so when I said to him that I did, my mum said that I didn't, and then explained that I would sometimes go out to lunch with people during office breaks - which sounded as if it was the only thing I did. He also asked whether I was capable of getting on transport and driving, which I said I was, but if I was to go on a bus I wouldn't know where to get off.

Sorry if what I said up there is hard to understand, I am not very good at explaining stuff. But after the session I was really upset. It made me realize that I was maybe different. In the past, I had been bullied so hard for my dyspraxia and dyslexia that now I am too worried about making friends. I don't realize why I can't be like everybody else. In an ideal world, we all have to be sociable, and I just struggle to do so. I just can't really do anything right. I keep spilling things, knocking things over, and it is a pain up the blooming arse.

Have a nice day,

-Benjamin.

[Tom fod]

I've fortunately not had to.undergo such an assessment. However from the little I do know people must feel very torn between painting a picture of a very bad day in one's existence and saying I'm not useless (but I do still need some help and support). We're in many ways expected to be optimistic and display a can do attitude but in this sort of assessment they need to understand the detrimental effect on our ability to perform 'normal' day to day activities/tasks. Sadly this does absolutely naff all for maintaining personal confidence or sell esteem.

Dyspraxia and dyslexia mean quite different things to different people and are hard enough to explain on a good day. Add the pressure of a formal assessment and you know all too well.

[madcow]

Please see http://www.dyspraxicadults.org.uk/forum ... f=4&t=5110