This
challenge was one that I have been putting off for quite some time now but
finally did it. Overall it was embarrassing and hard. The two challenges I face
was going to the library and asking someone at the service counter where a book
was and while at Broulim’s.
Asking
for help at the service counter:
I
knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I walked into the library going through what
to say and not to say when I got to the counter. The girl was sitting at the
computer and looked up at me. The nerves hit and forgot everything I planned.
Instead of walking away, I continued forward. She asked me how my day was
going. I wanted to say fine, but instead I searched around for a word with no L
or N and said “good.” She asked me what she could help me with and that’s when
the challenge began. I searched around my head for words to say, I began to
turn red. I couldn’t say need, I couldn’t say help. I began to say, “I’m
request a book about the boy peter, it’s a movie, with a….character who has
arrows. The girl replied, “The hunger games?” I replied “yes, that.” She was
kind enough to tell me it was upstairs and wrote down the aisle it was in. I
looked at her and said, “I appreciate the aid, so I go upstairs…..it is at
this…..part of the card?” She was so kind and assured me that is was where she
directed me at the beginning. As I walked away, I said, “Thank……uh…….I
appreciate it.” I was doing so well until I knew I was at the end and almost
said thank you.
Broulim’s:
Broulim’s
was a bit more frustrating for me because I knew I could get many opportunities
to talk and ask questions. When I first walked in, I was shaking and went over
to the produce. I went up to one of the workers and said, “Hi, where are some
of your fruits that……are better for you.” I wanted to say healthy, and organic.
I challenged myself when I could’ve just asked for a specific fruit that didn’t
have an N or L in it. Instead of pointing to where it was, he took me to the
organic section and said, “Is this what you are looking for?” I said “yes, I appreciate
it.” I grabbed a few apples and continued through the store. As I went to check
out, I thought I could have gotten away with not saying anything, but the
cashier looked at me and asked, “Do you have a Broulim’s card.” It was my luck
that I left it at home. Once again I searched for words to say since I couldn’t
say no. I looked up and said, “I forgot it.” She then moved on and told me the
total. I then ran my card and asked for 20 dollars back. She asked how I would
like my change. I could not say a twenty or ten, so I said “four, fives.” It
was a good experience to go through as well. When I walked out of the store I
took and deep breath and was relieved to be done.
Going
through this challenge was hard but an eye opener for me. It showed me just
what some children go through each day and how if we are not patient enough,
that child will be pushed aside and left behind. I am grateful for the people
who had patience with me and willing to help me through this experiment.
Disability
Application Day – Fluency Disorder (stuttering)
Asking
for Directions:
Since I
already went into the library without N or L, I decided to go to the Kimball
and ask someone at the front desk for directions. I pretended as if I was a new
student and looking for a map of campus and how to get to the Hart building. I
went up to counter and asked the lady, “Can you uh, help me uh find out how to
get to uh, the Hart building?” The lady was kind and looked right past my
stuttering. She explained to me the easiest way was to go in between the
I-center and the mc and it was going to be the second building on my left. I
repeated back to her to make sure I understand what she was saying. “So uh….I
go out these back doors and go down the hill…uh in between the uh I-center on
my left and uh the mc is on uh my right?” she nodded and gave me a map. I then
thanked her and walked out the door.
Testing
Center:
I decided
to go to the testing center and use my stutter because it would have given me
an opportunity to ask a few questions while receiving my test. They took my
I-card and said, “Tiana?” I said, “Yyyyyyyyes.” They then asked me what test I
was taking, I then continued to say, “I-I-I am tttttaking the Mmmmath 205
ttttest.” They were so kind and said alright. I then asked, “I do do do not
hhhhave a cccalculator, cccan I ppplease borrow one?” They gave me one and said
my bubble sheet would come out by the printer. When I got to the printer, the
guy standing there gave me my test. I asked, “Does iiiiit mmmater what rrrroom
I ggggo to?” He said, “No it doesn’t, good luck on your test.” I said thank you
and walked into the testing room.
I found
this so hard to do both tests because not only did I have to say uh a lot but I
also had to hold out letters longer to try and put together a word. I am so
amazed by how children work through these disabilities daily. By trying to
maintain a steady flow of pretending to have a disability, it was hard. I need
to remember to reach out to those that struggle and always be there for them
when they are in need of help, just like I was.
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