This article is part of the series about ways that adults with learning disabilities can cope and adjust successfully. The rest of the articles are listed here.

One way that I have found to adapt when I can't figure out how to go about or do something is to put on my thinking cap and let my mind branch out creatively to find a workable solution.

Being creative is a big part of finding solutions with learning disabilities at any age, but as adults we may not be around someone who can mentor us at the moment, we may no longer be in school. At the workplace others around us may not even know we are have trouble doing what seems to come to them naturally.

This is the time to sit back for a moment and think about alternate ways to get the task at hand done. You may find it helpful to make a list starting with what the problem is and ways you have already tried to solve it. That is your baseline. Now think of just one way related to what you have tried already and write it down. Go down the paper this way writing out ideas you can think of that might work.

For example, you need to work out a math computation that seems like a jumble to you because you have trouble remembering number sequences. Okay, start on a fresh piece of paper and write out the problem. Draw a line underneath and all the way across the page.

If it is to phone a list of people, on the left list their name and to the right list their phone number. Then draw another line underneath and all the way across the page. Continue to do this with each person and number.

When all the names and numbers are recorded start phoning the numbers and place a checkmark at the left of each line to show you made the call.

If the call did not go through, do not put in the check. Later go back and try again till each line is checked.

Use this similar setup if you need to make a table of information. Before entering the data on the computer, make your entire graph on paper. It helps to write out on paper before typing, and of course if there is a computer failure the data is not lost. Save your paper copies!

If you have trouble with verbal communicating skills stick mostly to writing notes. It may be easier to write out rather than going the route of speaking out extemporaneously. An advantage of writing notes back and forth is the conversation is documented for future reference, particularly useful if you need to get a technical job done or need proof of what was said or expectations.

Being creative is the process of creating a solution from need. No person is perfect in every aspect of math and communication problem solving. It is to our advantage to take the time to write out alternate ways of getting the job done successfully - it is your way to get the job done.

Article by Susan Kramer

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