Special Report
Special Education Video

Diagnosed at 14, One Student’s Experience With Dyscalculia

By Jaclyn Borowski — October 7, 2024 2:23
Dyscalculia 5 BS

Jacquelyn Taylor was diagnosed in elementary school with dyslexia.

But it wasn’t until she was 14, entering high school, and struggling with basic math that a combination of her own research, and a professional assessment, provided a dyscalculia diagnosis.

She immediately started high-dose tutoring, and began sharing her experience on social media, and through her website, mindslikemine.com, where she’s found a community united around their shared differences.

Here, she walks through what it was like to go through elementary and middle school with undiagnosed dyscalculia, and offers tips for educators looking to help students like her.

Jaclyn Borowski is the director of photography and videography for Education Week.

Video

Special Education Video How to Spot Dyscalculia in Students
Dyscalculia affects 5 to 8 percent of the population. Here are tips for teachers on how to spot signs that students may have the disability.
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Special Education Video Tips for Teaching Students With Dyscalculia
Methods teachers can try to help students with dyscalculia.
2:56
A 5th grade student attends a math lesson during class at Mount Vernon Community School, in Alexandria, Va., on May 1, 2024.
A 5th grade student attends a math lesson during class at Mount Vernon Community School, in Alexandria, Va., on May 1, 2024.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Special Education Video The Relationship Between Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Math Anxiety
Dyscalculia is at times referred to as “math dyslexia.” Learn how the math learning disability is related to dyslexia and math anxiety.
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A 4th grader writes her group's lyrics in Chevonne Dixon's home room class at Tunica Elementary School in Tunica, Miss., on Dec. 16, 2018. Dixon is one of the first teachers in the state to incorporate the Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum into lessons for science, math, social studies and English.
A 4th grader writes her group's lyrics in Chevonne Dixon's home room class at Tunica Elementary School in Tunica, Miss., on Dec. 16, 2018. Dixon is one of the first teachers in the state to incorporate the Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum into lessons for science, math, social studies and English.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Special Education Video How Early Intervention and Tutoring Helped One Student With Dyscalculia
Tessa Marshall's dyscalculia was caught in 3rd grade. With early intervention and regular tutoring, she's now a freshman in honors geometry.
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