Meet Savannah Treviño-Casias, College Student With Dyscalculia

Summary

Savannah Treviño-Casias, a sophomore at Arizona State University, shares her journey navigating life with dyscalculia. From struggling with basic math, time management, and spatial awareness to learning self-advocacy in high school, she highlights the crucial role her mother and grandmother played in supporting her education. Savannah emphasizes the importance of college resources, particularly the Disability Resource Center at ASU, which provides accommodations like extended test time, note-taking, and recording. Despite challenges, she has embraced her learning disability, developed resilience, and finds college an exciting, enriching experience filled with academic growth, friendships, and opportunities for personal success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Savannah Treviño-Casias is a sophomore at Arizona State University from Phoenix, Arizona, who has dyscalculia.
• 😀 She has struggled with basic math concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division since childhood.
• 😀 Dyscalculia also affects her depth perception, time management, handling money, and navigating directions.
• 😀 Her mother, a special educator, was instrumental in getting her tested and supported for her learning challenges.
• 😀 After her mother passed away, her grandmother became her primary support system and actively learned how to help her.
• 😀 Savannah initially resisted help and labeling but began embracing support and self-advocacy in high school.
• 😀 She developed awareness of her needs and the accommodations required to succeed academically.
• 😀 At ASU, the Disability Resource Center provides accommodations such as double time on tests, note-taking support, and permission to record lectures.
• 😀 She finds the DRC to be a supportive community and describes it as a 'second home' on campus.
• 😀 Savannah is highly motivated, goal-oriented, and values the resources that help her succeed academically and socially.
• 😀 College has been both challenging and rewarding, allowing her to take diverse classes and meet people from different backgrounds.
• 😀 She emphasizes the importance of accessible resources and support systems for students with learning disabilities.

Q & A

Who is Savannah Treviño-Casias and where does she study?

Savannah Treviño-Casias is a sophomore at Arizona State University and lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

What learning disability does Savannah have?

Savannah has dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects her ability to understand and work with numbers.

What early challenges did Savannah experience due to dyscalculia?

She struggled with basic math operations such as addition and subtraction, as well as multiplication, division, counting money, time management, depth perception, and directions.

How did Savannah’s mother support her education?

Her mother, a special educator, encouraged her to get tested for special education services and provided guidance in navigating her learning challenges.

What role did Savannah’s grandmother play after her mother passed away?

Her grandmother became her main support system, learning about Savannah's struggles and helping her manage them effectively.

When did Savannah start embracing help for her learning disability?

She began embracing support and self-advocacy during high school after initially rejecting help and resisting being labeled with a learning disability.

What is the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at ASU, and how does it help Savannah?

The DRC provides accommodations such as double time on tests, note-taking assistance, recording lectures, and a supportive environment that helps her succeed academically and socially.

What self-advocacy skills has Savannah developed?

Savannah has learned to identify her needs, request accommodations, and navigate both high school and university resources to ensure her academic success.

How does Savannah describe her college experience so far?

She describes college as an incredible and amazing experience, highlighting both challenging and fun classes, as well as meeting people from diverse backgrounds.

What personal qualities of Savannah are highlighted in the transcript?

Savannah is described as determined, committed, goal-oriented, driven, resilient, and possessing strong perseverance in pursuing success.

Why are university resources important for students with learning disabilities, according to Savannah?

She emphasizes that resources like the DRC are critical for providing accommodations, support, and a base of stability, which are essential for academic success and personal growth.