Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Wheeler.
Hi Kimberly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story is about defeating disabilities, and this particular case is learning disabilities. As a young child, I struggle throughout my school years academically I remember the first gray when they were separating children into a group and be cruel. I remember being the only child in the big room, refusing to go physically refusing to go. The teacher had to literally pick me up and demanded I stay in the big group… these type of events continued throughout my school years. Because I was so bright and so many other areas as I could so without a pattern, I could just visually look at the dress or blouse. When it came to my schoolwork, it was way below satisfactory. Often it was seemed as I was not trying. The basic of everything was try harder and try harder. The first time I heard anything about me having a learning difference was my first year at El Centro college. During that time, we did not health care. So, there was not a formal diagnosis of what problem I may have. The next step was to simply drop out of college and into the workforce. I was able to get. Entry-level positions restaurants those type of things. Most I was able to do relatively easy. So, I might even struggle with those. I did find a job working in a daycare center where I actually did very well. I actually stood above the other two preschool teachers. This time I had determined that my learning the difference was due to not having proper preschool teaching. During this time, I decided to open my own daycare center. As I determined, I did do this very well. The daycare licensing required that we would have training yearly to work with the children in the school. In the training, I noticed a lot of attributes about the children that I had myself or I remember having previously as a young child. I remember getting the punishment. From the teachers and from home. I remember the bullying coming from the children who were academically ahead of me tremendously. During this time, I decided to get the formal psychological evaluation to determine what my learning differences were. I thought the better way to help the children was to first understand myself. After the evaluation, I found out that I had attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, and a short-term memory disorder. I wasn’t expecting. To hear a diagnosis of that detail. I certainly was. Was not expecting for her to say that I was scoring on the academic level of a seventh-grader. But my intelligence level was extremely high. During this time, the psychologist asked if I was OK, as my face began to change colors in as filled with water. I said I was OK in and I’ll put it together. I thought about all the other things that I had accomplished in my life. At that time, I was married with a child had a very nice home on the golf course. I had a thrive in business with employees and contracts with the city the state all intact. So, I really did focus on how will I was doing. On the way home. I began to cry, and I began to sob so aggressively that I had to pull over. It was like the inner child of myself saying that I really was trying, and I really was doing my best and just because I was making money and doing well it still did not take away that pain… The pain of all of the bullying and punishment that I had gone through throughout the years. And my own pain that I felt dumb, and I always had to hide that part of me. I have accomplished so much for myself as being a serial entrepreneur. At this time, I have several businesses., to daycare centers, a restaurant event center and owner of multiple properties. At this time, I want to pull back to the video and walk authentically who I really am. And doing this this will help me to help other children and adults to feel a sense of hope. A sense of their children will be able to thrive and do well in spite of having learning differences. I would like to get rid of the word, diss able and exchange it for a difference. I like to give hope to the parents and their children that they can’t achieve beautiful wonderful things in this life. I’ve recently wrote about defeating disabilities. The book goes into detail about my story of my life, that would inspire anyone that’s going through almost any struggle. Details outlines of how to move past the learning differences. My book defeating disabilities can be purchased on Amazon, Kendall, and Barnes & Noble… I have had many businesses in my lifetime. But this is the most precious as I actually give back to others. This book has the ability to cause a ripple effect of uplifting an invisible disability or difference. That is sometimes overlooked and misunderstood.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My academic life has been very difficult because it was misunderstood. Often times people like myself with learning differences. I remember as early as the first grade being placed in the big group was terrifying. Something within my spirit just told me that I did not need to be in the big group. The other children that or I should to the big group I had no problem. The poor academics continue. I have an old port report card that says she has a bad attitude. I believe the low academic level does cause a lot of the fights and bullying in love self-esteem in the school system. I had no choice in my family. I had to go to school. They weren’t quite sure how to make. And I just academically I was not able to remember cheers to try out for the cheerleading team. I wasn’t able to remember the steps to be a drill team person. I had a mixture of disabilities that would not allow me to take part in many I also have a stuttering condition that prevented me from speaking up often time in class or communicating. So, if you can imagine being in class and you can’t pay attention, you’re reading the book in the words won’t stand steel and your ass to stand up and read it out loud.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am most proud of this book because it is able to help people beyond my touch. Is able to help lift a group of people like myself that truly do not understand themselves. Making it almost impossible for someone else to help you as well. And to also give people a better understanding of people that they come in contact with. It doesn’t mean that are lazy. It doesn’t mean they’re not trying… And it certainly does not mean they are not trying.
What does success mean to you?
The success of this book would be the awareness of this invisible disability often time. Often times the person who has the disability or difference, like myself, all unaware and simply find himself disappointed. Also, the people that we come in contact with on a day-to-day basis. This book is actually a God to walk you through finding your gifts and managing your life in school life. This book gives hope and direction.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kimberlydwheeler.com
- Instagram: Defeating Disability
- Facebook: Defeatingdisability
- Twitter: Amazon
- Youtube: Barnes and Noble
- Yelp: Kendall
