Proving she's not "doomed to failure"

Despite struggling with learning throughout her early school years, Lenora (“Lenny”) Somervell of Brasstown, North Carolina was not formally classified as having a learning disability (LD) in reading and math until her freshman year of high school, the tipping point being her struggle mastering Algebra I. At first, she admits to having felt “stupid, defective, and doomed to failure,” but with encouragement from her parents and the help of a special education teacher, Lenny learned more about her specific strengths and weakness. In her junior year she was among a select few students to attend the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) where she has excelled both socially and academically.

In hopes of promoting awareness and improving services for students with LD at NCSSM, Lenny co-founded a campus group called E=LD². The group provides networking opportunities for students (with and without LD) to share study strategies and information about LD, and has offered workshops to help teachers better understand the types of instructional strategies and accommodations that will help all students achieve their potential. The National Center for Learning Disabilities is now honoring Somervell with the 2008 Anne Ford Scholarship Award. Now in its seventh year, this scholarship provides $10,000 toward tuition over four years to a graduating high school senior with LD who will pursue an undergraduate degree at a college or university. Read more about the award in the Anne Ford Scholarship section of the NCLD website.