DatBoomerGirl

It was intense. I had to do an IQ test in school which is how I found out my IQ is 72.

Basic things like spelling and maths are really hard for me. I also have struggles with speech. I struggle with things like sounding out words, pronunciation and I also have a lisp.

Another big thing I've had to overcome is the sigma. There's a lot of sigma when it comes to being mentally challenged. This is why every word for it eventually becomes an insult. This has happened to words like "rêtrd", "moron" and "spd".

My parents was very disappointed in me for having to go to special ed classes in school. I remember one night in particular when I overheard them talking about me. They talking to each other about how embarrassing it was to be the only parents with a kid who had go to S.E classes. How I would always be a burden and who had no opportunities in the real world. I remember how I just cried my eyes out for hours after hearing that.

I don't think it was anyone's song it was more just background noise. The Beatles were still kinda popular/relevant back then so that's probably why they played it.

It goes unseen. A lot of people assumed that everyone with an ID speaks like Forrest Grump and acts like Gilbert Grape but the truth is that ID's are a spectrum that vary from person to person.

"Did your past career affect your future jobs?"

Not when I was young. When you could just hide such information by not telling anyone. I suppose now-a-days it would get in your way if you wanted to be a teacher or a nun.

"Was it something you told romantic partners?"

Yeah, none of them seem to mind.

"Did you ever tell family members, at the time or later?"

When I was a stripper I confessed to my sister when she asked me what my career was. She was understanding and my brother found out later. Neither of them seem to mind and now we both think it's funny.

"Were you ever worried about people finding out about your career?"

Not really. It wouldn't be ideal with impolite company but when it's friends and mutuals then I'm fine with it.

VIP rooms are for the fancy clubs. Not the dive bar one I worked in.

There isn't any other type of intellectual disability. You may have got them mixed up with learning difficulties which do have different types. A intellectual disability is its own thing entirely. An intellectual disability is when someone has problems with learning and processing information.

Non of the other girls were interested in me. At first it was nice being just being around such nice girls but over time it became torture. Imagine being a starving dog and being surrounded by tasty sausages you can't eat. There was that but also it was only supposed to be a temporary thing to begin with.

My song was 'If you think I'm sexy' by Rod Stewart. Funk and soul was pretty common as well as some disco. I remember hearing 'Ring my bell' by Anita Ward, 'You sexy thing' by Hot Chocolate, 'Twist and Shout' by The Beatles and 'She's a lady' by Tom Jones a lot.

I thought that too but then I saw the bit at the bottom and thought you weren't.

I think there's been a massive mix up here. I meant in years not age.

Just an apartment. Nothing fancy.