“It was a huge relief, it really was,” Holly Chappus remembered. “Throughout high school and the beginning of my bachelors degree, it was ‘oh, you’re being lazy’ or ‘you need to try harder.’ It was very frustrating for me. But when I discovered I had learning disabilities, it was a huge relief.”

While it may seem odd at first, Holly’s reaction is similar to many who have grown up with learning disabilities. These disabilities are the hardest to recognize and very often don’t get identified until later in life. That’s why people with learning disabilities often get frustrated with school and themselves due to their difficulty working through class lectures and materials.

But if ever there was an example to stick things through, Holly is it. While attendingAcadia University, she earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in Sociology and a minor in Geology. Right now, she’s going after a second bachelor’s degree for Social Work from Dalhousie University. She’s also thinking of pursuing a Masters in Social Work, specifically in mental health and addiction services. 

But accomplishing all this didn’t come easy. “Growing up I had low high school marks due to my undiagnosed disabilities. Because of that, I was accepted into Acadia on a conditional basis, where I worked through my first year on my own and got accepted into a Bachelors of Geology. But in my second year, we discovered that I had AD/HD, so I began to work with counsellors at the school. And then in my third year, they learned that I more learning disabilities. 

“One was dyscalculia, which is like dyslexia, only with numbers. I also have a disability of written expression, which makes it difficult to translate my thoughts onto paper.”

When asked about how she overcame her disabilities, Holly explained, “I had physical accommodations like time extensions on exams and a special exam room where I could focus by myself. The school also gave me the services of Shirley Soleil (a tutor and counsellor), which really helped with the emotional aspect, like helping me through my exam anxiety.”

But it’s not all about absorbing text books and writing papers. While working part time as a waitress and raising a small family, Holly has worked hard to find balance. “I take things one day at a time. I plan things on a weekly basis. It’s all about time management really. I’ve also become self employed recently. I registered an organic farm called Humble Hills Heritage Farm this winter past.

When asked about what advice she has for students with disabilities looking to build their education and/or land their first job, Holly’s advice is to, “Take it one day at a time and never give up. Everyone has their own way of learning, but those with learning disabilities are a little bit different, so it’s important to find a tutor who understands your learning disability. And most important, take the time to appreciate your accomplishments before you move on to your next challenge.”