China Overseas Chinese Network, May 27. According to Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily, from “I can’t do it” to “I can try”, Yang Xiujuan was slow in learning and speaking when she was a child. She was caught by a doctor when she was in elementary school. Diagnosis of learning disabilities.

Along the way, although she faced various difficulties in study and work, she also overcome one by one.

　　Today, she is a baker and a Japanese weaver, and a mentor of the Self-reliance Association for People with Learning Disabilities. With her own experience, she encourages those who also face learning disabilities.

Slow learning to speak at a young age

　　In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, 40-year-old Yang Xiujuan said that when she was in kindergarten, her parents found that her learning and speaking ability was slower than that of children of the same age.

　　She was shy and quiet at the time. She was not very talkative and often relied on her parents.

　　She said that when she entered the kindergarten, the teacher gave her some simple tests, but it was difficult for her to read those words.

　　"Until I entered elementary school, my parents found that my learning progress was still slow, so they took me to see a doctor to test my intellectual development."

　　Yang Xiujuan said that at that time, the doctor confirmed that she was Global Developmental Delay (GDD).

　　Although the doctor confirmed that her overall development was slow, because she could read and write (although it was relatively slow), after entering elementary school, the school recommended that she enter a regular class and attend classes with other students.

Unsatisfactory PMR results suspend studies

　　Yang Xiujuan recalled the situation of studying at that year. In many cases, she could not keep up with the progress of her studies, because for her, the content of learning was very complicated.

　　"When I was in school, other classmates didn't know how to communicate with me, so I just sat in the corner alone."

　　She confessed that maybe she was still young, so when her classmates didn't talk to her, she would sit quietly and wouldn't say unhappy.

　　During her schooling, Yang Xiujuan was enrolled in ordinary classes, but in many cases she could not keep up with the progress of her studies, nor could she understand what the teacher was teaching. There was a clear gap between her academic performance and other ordinary classmates.

　　After completing the Malaysian Junior High School Assessment Examination (PMR), Yang Xiujuan suspended her studies due to unsatisfactory grades and ended her schooling early.

Leaving school to participate in life skills training

　　After leaving school, Yang Xiujuan was introduced to life skills training and participated in technical and vocational training workshops provided by the KIWANIS Center.

　　There, Yang Xiujuan was mainly responsible for packaging work, such as packaging straws, tissues and candy.

　　Talking about the study and working environment at that time, Yang Xiujuan also showed a smile on her face.

　　"I can meet a lot of friends there, and the friends over there have learning disabilities just like me."

　　"We can communicate, I can chat with them, eat, play together, and leave work together. We are very happy and share stories with each other."

　　She said that after studying and working there for almost 3 years, due to the relocation of the center, she must also look for other similar skills training workshops.

　　Under the introduction of a friend, she participated in a skill training class provided by the church.

Discover interest in contact with cooking

　　Yang Xiujuan said that most of the people who participated in the training course were young people who could not enter a regular school.

In addition to Chinese classes and math classes, she also started to learn about cooking and found herself interested in cooking.

　　She said that her learning progress was pretty good at that time, because the tutor patiently taught her based on her learning ability.

Entering the workplace to communicate is the biggest challenge

　　In 1999, when Yang Xiujuan was 18, she officially entered the workplace.

The initial work included employees in a candy factory, a cleaning attendant in a hotel, and a kitchen helper in an organic food store.

　　She said that in the early days of entering the workplace, she faced many challenges, especially in communicating with others, but she felt fortunate that she also met colleagues who were willing to guide her during the period.

　　Yang Xiujuan said that in addition to facing difficulties in language, numerical calculation is also a challenge for her.

　　"Two-digit calculations can be basically added and subtracted. If you go to three-digit calculations, it is a big challenge."

　　She admitted that even now, if she needs to calculate numbers at work, she must use a computer.

Join United Voice to cultivate social skills

　　She said that in her spare time, she also joined United Voice, a self-advocacy association for people with learning disabilities to cultivate the social skills of people with learning disabilities so that they can take control of their lives and contribute to society.

　　United Voice is also a social enterprise platform that sells hand-made products such as greeting cards, bookmarks, T-shirts, textiles, keychains, magnets, biscuits, etc.

Yang Xiujuan became a regular employee of United Voice in 2006.

Believe that everyone has their own power

　　Now Yang Xiujuan is more confident in expressing her opinions and completing work.

　　Although she has encountered many challenges along the way, she is now a senior trainer, baker and Japanese weaver of United Voice.

　　She said that even though she had a learning disability, she did not give up.

　　"I believe that everyone has their own power. Telling others that I have a learning disability, I will not feel embarrassed. More importantly, I must learn how to take care of myself, be responsible, have a good attitude and work hard." (Chen Jinghui )