Neurodiverse Maine
(Our intern, Jacquelyn, picks some interesting brains around Maine.)
Interviewed and Written by Jacquelyn Taylor
(This blog is the second half of an ongoing series that spotlights neurodiverse individuals hiding in plain sight around Maine. People rarely discuss what life is like with hidden disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD but our intern wants to change that. She will ask them questions about living and working as an adult with learning differences or learning disabilities. Our hope is that getting to know about how everyday adults have coped, overcome, and benefitted from their learning disabilities will inspire students who are facing similar challenges now.)
Angela Luna is a news anchor for WABI TV 5 in Portland, Maine. She was first identified as having ADHD in college.
What are some of the challenges you have encountered due to your learning disability and what is at least one way you have overcome them?”
Rejection sensitivity is a primary ADHD struggle for Luna. (Rejection sensitivity is, “extreme emotional sensitivity and pain triggered by the perception that a person has been rejected or criticized by important people in their life (Dodson 2022).)” She finds that a great way to “center herself back” is by looking at colors, “it's almost like a game”.
What are some ways in which your disability has benefited your life?”
Luna indicates that a huge reason why she chooses to accept her disability is because
“I used to always think of ADHD as such a negative connotation” but now I call it a "superpower instead of a disability".
because there was and still is a major stigma surrounding having a neurodiverse condition. Although she still has struggles with her disability, she embraces it.
What is something you’d like a neurotypical individual to understand about your disability?
“Be patient” because “when it comes to learning something new and being in a new environment, that's really hard.” To ensure less stress on an individual with or without a neurodiverse condition is to give one “patience… and grace”. Secondly, although her disability is invisible, “it's real”. And, “my brain is just different than your brain.”
Can you tell me a bit about the career you are in and how your disability has impacted it?
“I grew up watching the news” when other children her age were watching cartoons. Working in news benefits her and her ADHD because she is “constantly on the go” and she “never get(s) bored.” She enjoys the “constant movement” and the opportunities where she gets to “meet so many cool people.”
Last words of advice from Angela Luna…
First, “Don’t let anyone or your disability hold you back from what you want to be and what you want to do.”
Second,
“Always be patient with yourself.”
Lastly, sometimes you “may just have to look at (a situation) in a different way” and then you will succeed.
Do you want more information on ADHD? Click Here: ADHD Signs and Symptoms
Or look at this PDF with facts about ADHD and other learning disabilities:
William Dodson, M. D. (2022, July 11). How ADHD ignites rejection-sensitive dysphoria. ADDitude. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd/#:~:text=Rejection%20sensitive%20dysphoria%20(RSD)%20is,high%20standards%20or%20others'%20expectations.
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