My Name is Mark Daly and I’m from Wicklow.
I had always struggled with maths and numeracy.
In Ireland, during the 1980’s there was little or no information or advice on what this could mean for me or what I could do to address this.
While on holiday in the USA I found out I had Dyscalculia, a Maths learning disability.
Later, I then found out I also have Dyspraxia or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) which affects fine and gross motor skills.
I still find areas of numeracy difficult like for example, the language of numbers. I was very nervous returning to education. I recall saying to the maths teacher that the last time I had to do a sum on the board was in primary school and I still remember the steam coming out from my teacher’s ears due to the length of time it took for me to come up with the answer. I did a course in DDLETB Adult Education Service based in the Loughlinstown Training Centre and this was the first time I told someone I had dyscalculia.
I love the discussion aspect of our classes like Intercultural Awareness where I’ve learned about the world, culture, and what makes us who we are. Our Personal Decision Making module has helped me support others in giving up smoking and to drink less sugary drinks.
Our group also made a podcast and uploaded it on SoundCloud. It is a huge achievement having your work displayed, and seeing people like the podcast on Facebook. My biggest achievement was having a newsletter I made on dyscalculia posted on our centres bulletin board.
If I had not returned to adult education there is no way that I would have been able to share my story with others, including both AONTAS and NALA, and other adult students in our centre
Three years ago I took the step of going back down the road of adult education and I haven’t looked back since.