What School Was Like As A Blind Student

Join my exclusive Killer Bee Club at / mollyburke
Download my Audiobook "It's Not What It Looks Like" on Audible: audible.com/mo...
Follow Me:
Instagram: @mollyburkeofficial
Facebook: / mollyburkeofficial
Twitter: @mollybofficial
TikTok: @mollyburkeofficial
LEARN MORE: mollyburkeoffic...
Big thanks to my Patron’s for supporting my content!
Marie Bordeleau
Christian
Traci Cummins
Maddy Duke
Stephen Garcia
Kayla Haysley
Jessamyn
Jess/theyloveyou
Bailey Mae
Ariela Jaylon
Aliah Maiken Helen Johnsson
Ashley Jones
McCay Johns
Caitlin Smith
Sofia Sousa
Ava Bender
Erin Horowitz
Sophie Reynolds
Rachel Carter
Caroline Morgan
Hunter Walden
I'm Molly, a typical sushi, makeup, and fashion loving millennial girl who just so happens to be blind! I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at just 4 years old and began public speaking at age 5. I started just doing motivational speaking, but now I make videos and even model! Even though I can’t see, I know that there are bright spots in everything we face. Let’s find them together. 💕

[@MollyBurkeOfficial]

Are you back at school yet? How is it going?! Share your experience at school! What do you like, what do you find challenging?

[@spring1485]

I'm going to school tomorrow its really hard because I'm not im the same group as my best friend

[@emmahfh8321]

Love you Mollyyyy!! Ur amazing girl!

[@niabarley4615]

Yes I started last week, it is going okay there is a lot of school work. The thing I like the most is on,y having to go in twice a week and staying home three days a week. The thing I least like the most is getting up really early.

[@samanthadeyo]

Molly Burke I’ve been in school for a week and it’s my first year of high school. I’ve been doing it all at home, which is much more difficult than being in person.

[@8randomprettysecret8]

Stopped school year ago

[@AuthorTinaMoss]

I worked with students with various forms of disabilities for 12 years. And we used to say; “Fair is not everyone getting the same thing. Fair is everyone getting what they need to be successful.”

[@user-rn6zb2jc3e]

Equity leads to true equality 👍

[@bruceheitkamp1724]

Hi Molly My roommate when I was a Jr in collage was blind. He had a learning assistant and all of his text books were translated to braille. This meant we had a lot of his books in our dorm room, plus 5 guitars, 3 desks, bunk bed, and a couch. He was in school to become a pastor, so he had to learn German, Latin, Old Testament Hebrew, and New Testament Greek. the text books for these had to be translated for the first time to braille. He graduated with honors, went through seminary, and served as a pastor for the past 40 years. He also lead our churches efforts for the blind. In 2016 our collage bestowed a Dr. of Letters on him and he gave the commencement address. He is the most amazing person I have ever met.

[@aymi_ann528]

I’m a teacher and this year I have a blind student. I’m feeling a lot of pressure to make sure I do my best as their teacher. This was such an interesting and helping video ❤️❤️

[@malina9070]

Well, seeing you care so much more than molly's teachers did, I think that already puts you way ahead! ❤️💕💞 You'll be a great teacher I can tell!

[@aymi_ann528]

@@malina9070 Thanks! I'm trying my best! It is definitely just a new way of thinking/speaking when interacting with a student who is blind. Especially because we live in such a visual world. I'm working on a mindset shift when I work with them.

[@UnsightlyMuse]

One piece of advice I can give: treat them NORMALLY. Don’t assume them incapable of tasks. Don’t exclude them from things you personally believe they can’t handle. They’ll tell you if something’s not working/inaccessible.

[@Tootsie-yj1rz]

I think if you cared enough to watch this video you will do great!!

[@niabarley4615]

When you have a long day of school and a math pretest and then Molly posts a new video and makes life better.

[@lexibees3904]

omg sammmmeee

[@niabarley4615]

Yeah school can be rough.

[@OneArtist2]

Omg sameee but replace the math pretest to literature pretest.

[@niabarley4615]

Haha all pre tests in school are not fun.

[@lexibees3904]

The B Crew I agree expectspecially now that we’re at home

[@lillyc9283]

When molly “silently make eye contact with your partners” I cringed. Not just for molly, but even as a sighted student that felt so awkward especially when you had make eye contact with a partner you could choose. I was always one of those student that the teacher had to pair up with manually because it has hard to even pick a partner when you could actually talk and walk around the room.

[@gingerslife4856]

All of my friends would go to other people and there was a odd number of people in the class so I always wound up in a group of three with other people

[@znyznyzny]

lol, why? like what is the point of asking to do that? some weird social skill?

[@lillyc9283]

zny idk😆. I think it was just a way to make the class be quiet.

[@gingerslife4856]

@@carrots6071 oh that must have been weird

[@ICatheraTashaI]

I never had to do that, that would have been SO awkward and weird.

[@ChicoBling15]

I'm a special education assistant in the US (also known as a paraprofessional) and I just wanted to say thank you for shouting out your educational assistants and recognizing them in this video

[@mv_03]

Here is another problem in schools : when students have any medical condition that makes studying difficult BUT it doesn't count as a disability. My example is migraine with aura (a super evolved headache) that can just put me down for days, but does not count as a disability, so when i skip school i have to learn all the things that happened in class in record time, and then do a normal test packed with things that i could have learned but had no time for. So infuriating!!!!! But still I didn't have any learning disadvantage because it was just a headache and some teachers pretended from me what everyone else did, when the only thing that i needed was time and bare minimum support! THAT is why I want to become a better teacher for others!

[@EreIGo]

Valentina Marengo ask (or have your parent/guardian request) a 504 Plan. That seems like a condition that should warrant accommodations, and the ADA laws need to be followed. That’s what a 504 Plan can help with...communication about your needs in order to be successful. This is from a US standpoint (I’m a teacher).

[@oliviacass2352]

I struggle with the same thing!!

[@PanickedPluto]

I have chronic migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and mental health issues and my school only let me have one day off a week for it. Like I never know when a migraine is coming so I won’t need that day off every week and I’d need more than one day when I do get one. It’s bullshit man. They just don’t care. That’s why I dropped out and went to cosmetology school (took me two years to finish because of my issues) but now that I have my issues under control I have a normal salon job and never have to take days off. If they had just worked with me while I was trying to get medical help I would’ve been fine but they weren’t patient and understanding

[@kaitlinelizlee]

Hey girl! I know that getting medical advice from strangers is actually the worst, but I highly recommend if you haven’t already getting in touch with a neurologist to have your migraines assessed, because with their help, you should be able to get accommodations at school! Migraines can be so disabling, and you shouldn’t have to suffer without help ❤️

[@PanickedPluto]

Kaitlin Lee yeah I’ve been to a doctor about my headache but never a neurologist. They prescribed a medicine idk what it was called but its also apparently used for depression and seizures. I stopped taking it after awhile because of side affects and my migraines did come back after awhile (they never fully went away anyway) but not as frequent as they were before. However I’ve been to the doctor since then again for migraines and my irritable bowel syndrome plus a list of symptoms I’ve been experiencing such a as unexplained weight loss and appetite loss along with random head pains and they took my blood and tested my thyroid and it was good so they basically said I’m good and aren’t doing further tests for some reason. Doctors haven’t been very helpful. So maybe instead of a typical doctors office I should go to the neurologist like you said.

[@outside8312]

I would love to hear your mum talk about what It was like for her going through all of this as a parent

[@Oooohlalala]

Actually there is a video about this on her channel! She interviewed her mom a month ago

[@SwedishDisney]

Molly, I want you to know that you are my role model! I am a 20 year old guy from Sweden. I watch you many hours a day. I am dealing with vision loss and I am in that place that you were in your 10 years journey. I am depressed , self harm and you are helping me see the light and that there is hope. When I was diagnosed my family got very very sad and worried mainly for my well being because they knew it was hard on me. I showed my mom the video when you and your mom was talking about raising a blind daughter and me and my mother cried because everything your mom said in that video, my mom has always said to me, even more now! I have a boyfriend and he is also very worried for me and every time he get sad about this i say to him "think about Molly. I will be as happy and strong as her when I'm there" and than he is happy again. I have been working in a accosiation for people with disabilities and I have posted a lots of your videos on our website and it's very popular. You make me cry many times because you give me answers on soo many stuff and worries and concernes. And this video, once again touched me. I think I am also miss diagnose from a learning disability but now my dotor is telling me that maybe it is because of my sight loss... I love you and everything you do! You are saving my life. Hug and love from Sweden (PS. you are very famous in the blind community in Sweden, so there is a facebook group and we sometimes talks about you because we can relate)

[@harveyabel1354]

Sending you love and strength :)

[@judittta1]

Wow, what a story. I have a feeling you will make it in life. Sounds you have lovely family and friends. I can't not relate to vision lost, but i have dyslexia my hole life (and more). Only 2 years ago i got diagnosed with Autism (after I finished my education). I got a bachelor degree, but if my boyfriend didn't help me like a EA, i wouldn't have make it. Education systems are build on the normal majority of the people, but if you are different, you have to work at least twice as hard as everybody else to reach the same level as the 'normal' students. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@reggieblack1672]

Bravery and love ❤️

[@stefndj3583]

When I was an ASL interpreter many thought my student was my son. 🤣 I was 21 and he was in 3rd grade.

[@sophiaclapp912]

People are just like what a kid with an adult I have never seen before, must be a parent and kid

[@shimmyalot]

Kind of along similar lines. I used to take my younger cousins to the library during the summers so they could get books and stuff and one summer we had several people ask if I was their mom. I was like 12 or 13 at the time and there's only a 8 year age difference between me and my oldest cousin!

[@claradreams1923]

@StefNdj Can I ask how did you learn asl? I m learning French sign language rn, I only took LSF classes during one year with a deaf teacher but now that I learn alone I feel like I m so bad at it (especialy because I m shy and struggle to do facial expressions correctly) and I m scared to never manage to become truly bilingual😐

[@daynabailen4331]

Clara Dreams there are a ton of online classes and a local university might offer classes.

[@stefndj3583]

@@claradreams1923 I went to college and majored in educational Interpreting. :) I went in with knowing only the ABC's while many classmates had deaf family or taken classes in high school. Keep up the work you will get it!

[@adriannahildebrandt7646]

The going around and reading a paragraph, is the worst thing that the teachers made us do

[@slowchan]

OMG that shit gave me socially anxiety. I was really good at reading when we still was learning how to reed because I liked it. Then I got more into reading just for fun and lost my ability to read out loud. My brain was reading too fast and I was making mistakes after mistakes and was so embarrassed about that. In a couple of years I felt anxious just answering on a teacher's question. Because of that I got kicked out uni two times. It's sad because I licked to learn before it all happened.

[@zanthiatillmanns4508]

As a dyslexic I feel that

[@533134]

Yep especially when you struggle with reading. That was me in school!

[@cetkat]

My brain literally just doesn't work that way. I don't do audio books or read aloud (unless it's a very technical, complex subject and I'm reading a small section multiple times slowly to myself). I hated reading aloud in class for all the normal reasons.. but I actually had to go back and read it silently to myself to know what I'd just read. Thankfully it was a group activity moreso than anything else. The person who had just read was never asked a question.

[@aubreycatlin7397]

My mom works with kids with special needs like autism, ADHD and dyslexia. The kids need various things to help them learn and the IEP is designed to make every kid successful.

[@AnnaNicoleVinopal]

Depends on the school. I went to an inner city high school with a very low budget. They offer IEP meetings but NOTHING was followed through. It was a joke and did not help in any way. I was lucky to have a caregiver who advocated fiercely for me, and they still did nothing.

[@crystalwit]

i am 11 and i have a iep learing disabillity i did ot,otp,counceling and now i only do counselling and in my test i get a 50-60 thats my average but know i am still learing why i have special needs and soon i am gonna get 80s

[@Elizabeth-eb9il]

Yup. My bro has an IEP for dyslexia and ADHD and I have a 504 for anxiety.

[@normal4810]

@@crystalwit when I was in secondary school, passing was a 65+. However I knew of a girl with an IEP accommodation to get her passing grade lowered (so perhaps passing is 50+ for her) to better reflect her abilities

[@Derekbordeaux24]

Adhd isn't exactly special needs learning

[@beckylivefree1256]

I worked as an "Educational Assistant/Vision Itinerant". Where I'm from it's called a Student Resource Aide. We were trained to work with students with all disabilities. However, my first student was Visually Impaired. My supervisor really liked the way I worked with my student with VI, so for the 7 years that I worked in that position I was placed only with students with VI. I had three students during that period. I started learning braille with my first student while he was also learning it for the first time. He was 5. Everything you are explaining in terms of using magnifying glasses, jaws, a white board with black marker, IEP's, having extra time for exams, a separate room. I've experienced this with my students in different capacities. The bond I formed with my students are really special to me, it's like they were my own kids (I'm 25 and have no children of my own). I am so proud of each of them they are doing wonderfully. Thank you for speaking about this, I think a lot of teachers and other persons in education need to become familiar with it, so they aren't as afraid or cautious when they have a student with special needs in their classroom.

[@cristiane5859]

I found the whole testing for disability process to be traumatic. I was diagnosed with a learning disability early on; as a result, the school would go out their way to separate me from others, and some teachers/EA refused to accommodate my learning disability. By the time I reached the sixth grade, I had found ways to adapt to the work, so I did not need to depend on the accommodations. I struggled throughout school; I was 75% student. When I had an IEP, the school had already written me off and told my parents that shouldn't take dash 1 classes ( academic /college stream like 20-1 or 30-1 which is different from AP). I took only academic classes, I attended college, and now I work on the frontlines as LPN.

[@abdullahak2204]

Great !!!

[@ellenvoyage594]

I’m so sorry you went through this. I had a very similar experience.

[@courtneymcdonaldxx]

That is awesome!!!!

[@gingerslife4856]

I am LD too all of my teachers and faimily members thought that I knew that (I did not) kids in my class had always made fun of me still do but now that I know why I am not the dumb idiot weirdo they would call me did that happen to you too?

[@cristiane5859]

@@gingerslife4856 I was bullied too, many of my classmates called me slow and would actively exclude me where most people in the class would not talk to me unless it. was to insult me. The tipping point was when I was in the middle of grade 6, my mother passed away from a drunk driving accident. After her death, many peers continued to bully me, the worst part of the situation was the school trying to relabel my IEP to include clinical depression one month after she passed. My teacher would give detention because I refuse to smile and the adults were uncomfortable with, my grief. As a result of that, I refocused my outrage. against the school, and I had informed my Dad what was happening. He encouraged me to stick it out and forgive the other kids because they are immature and my academics are more important. The next year I was enrolled. in middle school with my peers. I talked to my dad we agreed that being on IEP was no longer beneficial for me and left the program. After that I. was bullied less and eventually got a reputation as being one of the smart kids because I tried hard and I made friends with those who valued academics.

[@maryt9793]

The blonde hair just looks so cute on her!

[@harveyabel1354]

You can tell her that directly!

[@phoebefisher7878]

2012 Grad too! Never knew we were at school at the same time! So cool! I'm a teacher now and it hurts to hear how many little things your teachers did that didn't make you feel included. I always strive to make sure I never single out children as different!

[@ameliaobrien6998]

Omg I’m not blind but I’m disabled and in school I had a teaching assistant and because I used to be selectively mute I didn’t have any friends I was also bullied I felt alone but now I’m in college(uk) and I’m so much happier and have friends and I don’t feel alone anymore. Before this video I thought I was the only one thank u molly ❤️🐝

[@meh825]

I had selective mutism too!

[@charlie3650]

Thank you for educating me on blindness! You inspire me so much and thank you for helping me through hard times. You have helped me understand people with disabilities, which is vital for me because I have a cousin with cerebral palsy. Thank you and love you

[@audreyledon207]

As some one who is dyslexic when I was younger and in school they just thought I was unable to understand how to learn which can make a child feel bad. It wasn’t until I was in collage that I myself realized I wasn’t stupid just my brain mixed things up. I hope for younger people it’s easier now than in was twenty or thirty years ago. I hated the feeling of everyone knowing I was different and feeling like I didn’t belong. Also you are an inspiration of hope ❤️ even for us sighted people.

[@Livywithlove]

Audrey Ledon it hasn’t changed. I got diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 15. All the signs were there but they didn’t test me. Went from getting D’s and E’s to A’s and A*s in a year of getting diagnosed through private tutoring x

[@charlotteknight3487]

Amelia K wait since when were there different types of dyslexia? I have dyslexia too

[@lianereading6707]

I totally can relate to this I'm dyslexic as well and struggled all through school up until college when I was finally no longer treated as the stupid kid that just got pushed to the side.

[@eyesonmarymahaney1731]

When I was really little I was diagnosed being visually impaired so I can’t see very well and my world is completely blurry and I try to help people who have the visual impairments and it’s hard for me to do a lot of normal things because I need help when I was in school but I still am in school but when I was in like elementary middle school high school I always had to have someone with me to help me learn because I don’t learn the same wayAs everyone else it takes me twice as long to learn some thing and my teachers have to keep going over and over and over it with me before I actually get it

[@garethknott5915]

its hard at school as a vi person .dont worry when you leave school volunteer for something you are passionate about, i did this and when people see what you have to offer doors will open and we all need to feel needed and use fall gareth

[@abdullahak2204]

U can do this !!!

[@eyesonmarymahaney1731]

Even now with KZbin it's hard because I have to record my self and try to show people about my day it would b easier if I had some way to record myself without having to hold up my phone. Then I could really show my day to everyone much better.

[@eyesonmarymahaney1731]

Abdullah Abdul Kareem there are days where I'm not even motivated to want to record because I fill like no one takes me seriously and its also hard when I'm trying to get my message out to everyone about how important it is to not take your eyesight for granted. I try not to let my disability get to n the way but it's hard

[@abdullahak2204]

@@eyesonmarymahaney1731 yup you are strong and you can do it . I can understand!. Let's have a chat on whichever platform u like ?

[@strgazr04]

I can relate to everything you mentioned, Molly. I was born with dwarfism and struggled through school. I've always been a great student academically and did well. I had a perfect 4.0 GPA in undergrad and graduate school. I knew I had to study harder and prove myself in the future if I wanted to be a successful adult. It seems disabled people always have to prove more than most. But the school system didn't make it easy. They kept denying accommodations. My parents constantly had to fight for me. I had a one on one aide every day and it only makes you feel further isolated. I didn't have any friends and often other students would "hang out" with me just to get my help to do their homework. If I was paired by the teacher for a project, the other student would be friendly in class and then do a 180 the minute class ended. I made more friends with my aides and teachers than I did my peers. All of this was only compounded by multiple surgeries and missing months of school. The system really needs to be reworked. It's become so full of red tape and bureaucracy. All of these rules and systems are put in place and ironically it feels like students graduate learning less and less useful knowledge.

[@Drustr]

I'm a martial arts instructor, and it breaks my heart whenever I hear that people get bullied. My older brother is a senior this year and he was bullied up until the end of middle school. But because of my knowledge in martial arts, I was able to stop that. At my school (martial arts school) we focus on different things like, focus, self control, confidence, courtesy, discipline, and respect. I am truly sorry for the things people could have said to you. I truly feel for you.

[@sophiaclapp912]

I have dyslexia and even though I never had official accommodations I always took way longer than everyone else. On my first timed test I almost started crying because I couldn't get the test done.

[@reaganj750]

Girl stop imma cry just reading this I relate so much. My anxiety goes crazy before a timed test every singe time.

[@sophiaclapp912]

@@Amelia-tp3or I don't know

[@cinder5268]

I had an IEP for learning disabilities while in school. I Was often behind and needed help in math, writing, and reading. In my experience having accommodations for test-taking and classes to help me get to the level that I needed to be where good. But I felt after a certain point my school was not allowing me to progress any further or didn't think I could. I was also often taken out of classes to take tests or not allowed to take certain classes. I definitely think they need to figure out a better way to help students who need IEPs. It was definitely not a fun experience. Luckily My mom did often advocate for me and even pulled me out of that school. When I hit college apart from having to take a lower-level math class to get me caught up I stopped having these issues.

[@NicoleKada]

Oh my god girl! I can’t even put it in enough words in this, and how relatable this video is to my life and schooling experience! The system sounds very similar to schools in America. I always had someone following me and can definitely relate to the feelings that came with it. Thankfully by the time I got in high school, that person would spend time in our special classroom away from me and let me be with the rest of the students on my own so I felt more normal. Math was definitely a pain in the ass along with some other classes, like science and physics. Shakespeare was the worst to listen to with a screen reader! I so feel you on the part where you said you pretty much had to memorize things, whereas others can just flip through their books and look at highlighted notes. Still something I struggle with in college today. Others might find our accommodations unfair, but we definitely need them. It’s not really extra time for us. It’s just the time that we actually need and it’s not because we are slow, but it’s because it takes us longer to work with the technology that we have. I remember taking organic chemistry in college and it would take me like 4 hours to take an exam, whereas every other student only had 15 minutes. It only took me that long because I had to tell the scribe what to write and the scribe how to explain to me the molecules that were on the page and the reactions taking place. You were definitely speaking my language in this video! Also, screw all the people that bullied you! Look how successful and happy you are now. Probably doing better than any of them!

[@NicoleKada]

Of course the part of the commentthat I dictate said 15 minutes. It was supposed to say 50 minutes

[@BlackParade727]

It is soooo irresponsible for any of your teachers to do things like "silently look around the room, whoever you look at is your partner". There's a blind student. What are you doing. They can't just stop trying to accommodate for you altogether just because you have an aid.

[@johcelynschumacher13]

As a parent of a blind child, I truly appreciate all your posts! I know everyone is different, but just hearing things from your point of view is so helpful. Life with a disability is already challenging & that is just made worse by the "cookie cutter" education system. My daughter (who was speaking full sentences and able to spell and read by 3 years old) has been labeled as having a mental disability her whole life because she wasn't able to point to objects she wants, catch a ball, or draw simple shapes. I hope that one day enough people speak up and we are able to change the system!

[@xHarlequin]

“Look around the room, whoever you make eye contact with is your partner” lol I’m sighted and that sounds like a nightmare. I would probably just stare at my desk. I hated partner work in school 😂

[@elizabethann5308]

Yeah. In 7th grade in geography there was this cute guy that I had in another class who sat in the back and never spoke. He was my partner. I didnt even need the book to do the homework. I let him copy me because he struggled later in high school. We became great friends and I never got to date him but if I told my 7th grade self he would be one of my best friends I would never believe it.

[@kayleen3433]

The beauty I find in homeschooling my kids (two who have special needs, autism with low fine motor skills, and another with dyslexia/dyscaulcia, adhd) and one who learns easily, is that I can make the accommodations they need. Every day, and every year. I truly am blessed to be able to work with my kids every day!

[@sasha.sasha4446]

Your top is soooo pretty Molly! I love it!

[@didjaseemyjams1582]

I love how you focus on the positive things but also acknowledge what needs fixed

[@KarlyPerkins]

I think it's really interesting hearing these things. I'm in the middle of student teaching to become a special education teacher, but that's just in the US which can be different than other countries. I loved listening about your accommodations and how the teachers worked with you as most of what you talked about sounded very familiar to what I've been taught and have seen in the classroom. I love hearing about your experiences in general and what it was like for you looking back even if it breaks my heart to hear how isolating and difficult it was for you even with how intelligent and bright you are.

[@maisonnnx3]

I know Molly will never see this.. but it is so interesting to see this video. I am currently a student in psychology in school. I am taking an Exceptional Children class which includes students with disabilities like hearing loss, blindness, or just any learning disability. Many of the terms she's talking about, for example IEP, are things that I am currently studying. It's nice to see how these things really do play out in school (even if it isn't always perfect). I'm proud of Molly for everything she has accomplished in her career and I always will wish her the best. Love you, Molly and you've inspired me more than you'll ever know.

[@rebekahjohnson4883]

I would love to see more about the bullying side of things! I used to get bullied a lot as a sighted person so I can’t imagine what it was like for you! 😊

[@sannaslife6395]

Are used to get bullied to as a blind person if you are interested please check out my KZbin channel

[@Delagrande]

I started losing my vision in my first year of high school (year 7) and it was rough i got bullied and new people i didn't know from primary school thought they could 'catch my blindness' even though i explained it was genetic and they still wouldn't come near me for the rest of the year. when i tried to adjust to my new equipment people would think i was weird and say things and so i refused the help and told them i didn't want a one to one helper in school and computers, magnifiers etc. so i strained my eyes and struggled just to try fit in and that caused bad damage to my eyes but once i finished school and college, i started accepting my blindness and found the blind community, my channel helped me a lot also. i'm much happier now and surrounded by people that actually relate and care! Just had to get through the bad parts to find the good parts. Thank you for sharing your experience through school molly!

[@annalisalaphen3585]

I have been at school for the past two days and it’s hard bc I need special help and I rlly wish I was normal sometimes but when I watch ur videos and I am like wow I want to be as confident as molly is so thank u for being my bright side of life

[@n.s6603]

I'm so glad you made this video because when I was at secondary school (I'm from the UK) it took about two and a half years to get the basics in place and the next 3 years after it still had trouble with my teachers and I would get in so much trouble because I was behind on my work and exam revision, because of this I felt like a burden so I was reluctant to ask for help, my self esteem and confidence crumbled (I had teachers that I trusted but it still wasn't enough). But thankfully now I'm at an amazing school for my last two years of education before uni and they have given me so much support and help from day one and so now I feel I can achieve anything I want.

[@asmajaved6744]

Molly you're a brave girl, proud of you💓

[@mariagal8818]

This is some good content!! She never disappoints😆😆

[@isabellaearnhardt6380]

Great I can't wait to hear more. I discovered your channel through your speech on bullying and it helped me. Thank you

[@sarahniki_m4569]

Shout out to all the workers and teachers who help people (children in this context) with a disability. Such amazing-hearted people and they I feel they deserve to be recognized more

[@mariabordian5807]

God . This video was so interesting and educational . I didn't notice how 20 minutes flew by

[@OliKeepingTheFaith]

This was truly inspiring. I’m stubborn and can be self righteous so it’s hard for me tell someone they’ve inspired me but you need to know you have a purpose and it’s being fulfilled. I just started my first semester back in undergrad at 24. I have multiple disabilities & I’m only on the 3rd week in. I spent 15 consecutive hours yesterday and 6 consecutive hours today writing a research paper for my psychology class. I started feeling incredibly discouraged yesterday thinking other students don’t have to try nearly as hard as I. I cried tears of frustration but when typing my last sentence I felt an amazing sense of relief and great accomplishment. A few hours later I started to feel overwhelmed that I still had so much homework to do but then I watched this and I feel encouraged to continue on with school. Thank you for sharing Molly! This was a great topic to talk about. ☺️

[@PhoenixJamesFilms]

I always love Molly's informative videos, shes helped me understand one of my friends. He's going blind from the same eye disease (RP) as well as macular degeneration, I never understood why he had a aid teacher with him. When he told me that he had RP I was confused and by watching Molly, she made me understand what was happening to his vision and how to help him out with seeing things. (Hes has a little circle of vision left)

[@inkpage3769]

I’ve always found it interesting to learn about others’ experiences with disabilities, especially with education, so thank you for sharing your experiences so openly. While I had accommodations in school for being deaf in one ear, I’m fully aware of the fact that my schooling did not have nearly as many challenges as those with more severe disabilities. Thank you for sharing your experiences so honestly in this video and on your channel!

[@Ash-tr8ph]

I believe the junior and senior kindergarten thing is an Ontario thing! I live in NB and I don't think we have junior kindergarten in any public schools on the east coast!

[@damystery123]

Yeah, must be Ontario only. BC has no senior/junior kindergarten. Just normal kindergarten

[@jodywaddle4448]

Yeah, not in Alberta either.

[@chilli.chompa]

Was skimming the comments to see if this was just an ON thing. In NS, and we only have grade primary before grade 1 (.....years ago, when i was in school, anyway haha)

[@MabelAnton2]

Not in Montreal either I think

[@AnnaNicoleVinopal]

I remember being taught brail and sign language (blind and hearing impaired) in elementary school and now I look back and am SO GRATEFUL for my first best friend. She was almost completely blind and we had no idea how lucky we were to have someone going through the same things we were.

[@sarahniki_m4569]

I always love Molly's clothes in her vids! Also I love how her outfit is matching her bedroom! Love you Molly!! Thank you for doing what you do

[@Ali_Miller09]

Thank you molly thank you I am Dyslexic and struggled with so many similar things that are similar to the way that you struggled with things so thank you for making this video to show people that disabilities and learning disabilities are common and are serious matters

[@lexibees3904]

I Love these videos it makes me and everyone so aware! 💕💕 Spreading awareness is so amazing especially around school areas ♥️

[@roma_no1021]

I want to become a special education teacher and its very interesting to hear about the different accommodations that were made for you! Thank you for such an informative video!

[@covidcrafters2565]

thank you so much for sharing Molly I truly wish you didn’t have to go through that. Sending virtual hugs🤗 Stay safe ❤️❤️❤️

[@shalacarter6658]

Thanks Molly! This has so much new information. ! All three of my children had IEPs. In the U.S. we have Para Educators who work under the head of the Special Ed Department. It always annoyed me that they Paras were not involved in the IEP meetings since they were the ones working with the kids most often. I have experience from both sides. I was a SPED Para for two years and then I was a parent involved in IEPs. We ended up adopting the first girl I worked with 1:1 as a Para!

[@holly._.1]

i love you molly your so inspirational x thanks for everything

[@jennamarie1456]

I love this! I’m in college now but I relate to all of this when I was younger. I am visually impaired and had all those accommodations as well in my IEP

[@t-dawg374]

I remember you saying in a video that you went to a school for the blind for two years. Can you do a video on how that was different from normal school?

[@klavierbarrette]

I relate to this video so much. I had an IEP for physical disabilities and hearing loss. The making friends while having an aide all the time hit hard. Also surprised at how similar the US and Canada model is. I'm working in Special Education right now educating parents on how to navigate the system because it changes so often and is going to be very hard now that everything is going remote. Thank you Molly for all your insight! 💜

[@just_be_123]

Wish we were in the same classes! I was in the TDSB system and put into in a segregated class 50% of the time for dyslexia and related challenged before switching to a private school. Now doing a PhD, intelligence wasn't the problem.

[@katiebug1783]

This seemed like it was a very hard to go through and I can’t imagine the stress because of it. You are truly so smart and it’s amazing how through all your school years you still tried your hardest and did not give up!

[@annaa919]

Heyy Molly!! Sending love from Denmark 💕

[@ofeliaquaade]

🇩🇰♥️

[@alexiavincent6684]

wow this really opened my eyes. obviously being blind in school sounds hard but having molly explain specific situations, especially the shakespeare example, that really threw me for a loop and had me imagine myself in her shoes for a moment. this woman is so strong

[@cookiesandcream6829]

Lit watching this during lunch break Ohh my god😲 molly just ❤️ed my comment. You are my idol. I’m shaking...

[@cookiesandcream6829]

Where did it go!?

[@CH-ty5uh]

@@cookiesandcream6829 if you edit the comment the like disappears

[@cookiesandcream6829]

@@CH-ty5uh is there any way to revert it?

[@alwaysgirlbossin23]

No sorry :(

[@skvwayz1130]

Molly you are so strong

[@paigemagee1030]

Molly: I grew up in Canada where we have multiple kindergardens Me: lives in Canada entire life on the east coast but only one kindergarden Edit: wow. Watching this video really opened my eyes to what some of the students in my school go through, and made me realise just how subconsciously judgemental I had been. Keep up the impeccable content Molly!

[@paigemagee1030]

@Dan Sgambelluri I'm aware. Honestly, all of Canada has a better education system than New Brunswick, sooo not surprised

[@paigemagee1030]

@Dan Sgambelluri I know

[@beccam510]

Paige MaGee same here and I’m from NL 😂 I was like “wait what?”

[@Kirsten_is_cursed10]

What? Why does it matter where you lived your whole life if you only go to kindergarten one or two years?

[@Aisling88]

Yeah Alberta only has one kindergarten too.

[@emh9327]

I really relate to the social side of this!! I have cerebral palsy, I use a laptop, scribe, teaching assistant. Love you 💛

[@sarvedha1117]

Molly: I’m sure school looks very different Me: Yeah, looks like an iPad screen -_- 🤣

[@kayleighslife3030]

I am a senior in high school and I have been online this entire time. It has been absolutely terrible. I can totally relate to you because I have a reading disability and did struggle in elementary and made the decision to go to homeschool. But now I have a great team of people helping me and now I am doing the highest classes. Love you ❤️

[@ldwornik88]

Junior and senior kindergarten don’t exist in BC,; so that might just be an Ontario thing! It’s just kindergarten here.

[@decemberburgess184]

We have pre k and kindergarten in SK. Same thing but different name!

[@madisonbarkley9656]

You have my favorite merchandise of all time molly b! Love you girl

[@hannahquinn7934]

Would love to know more about the tech. Sounds like a Braille display would have been really useful. Did you ever want to learn French as well?

[@thegirlwhowearspants7282]

I am not a visual learner; I am an auditory learner. It is so much easier for me to grasp things when I listen rather than seeing it. For my Masters degree I am going to research into auditory learning and how it can be made easier. I cannot even begin to imagine how hard that must’ve been. You’re awesome Molly!!!

[@freespiritedfreespirited2595]

I need to comment and make sure everyone knows, people with learning disabilities are extremely smart, in fact most of them have higher IQs than the average population. When you are educated you aren’t a narcissistic, rude, egotistical, bully. Back to scheduled programming...

[@eleanorshaw8005]

I’m so glad that even though you had such a hard childhood, you manage to be the person that you are today 😁🌻

[@damystery123]

As a Canadian, I have never heard of senior kindergarten lol. Must be an Ontario thing

[@MabelAnton2]

Right? I didn’t have that in Montreal

[@damystery123]

@@sara-zq3db Based on other comments, it seems to be only an Ontario thing. I'm from BC and we don't have two different kindergartens. It's only kindergarten and then grades 1-12

[@rachaelpino6914]

Honestly, even though your experience is a little different than mine, your video is soooo spot on because your really pin-point so many examples of how complicated and dynamic the education system is and why educating blind and visually impaired people is so complicated.

[@AshleysAdvice]

I can really relate to the story time so much

[@RussianHostageSunflower]

This is heart breaking to listen to. I hate that people have to go through things like these. My sister had a disability when we were younger so I feel for you Molly

[@laurentimko9834]

Wow I’m so early lol love your videos, keep doing you girl❤️👍🏻

[@TheChickiboots]

I wasn't a disabled student, but for around 4 years I was a learning support student for kids with varying levels and kinds of disabilities (I mostly had students with Autism and visual impairments). I loved working with those kids and I really hope I made a difference for them, especially when I was working in a mainstream school. I spent my time split between helping them with learning, fighting for their accessibility and accommodations (It's getting very hard to get the right amount of funding for that in the UK right now and almost none of my kids had what they needed) and providing a friend and what mental health support I could give them. I loved every one of those kids and if money wasn't an issue I'd still be doing it now - I just couldn't survive on what I was paid. I'm so happy to hear from someone who also had an assistant like me through school had such a positive experience with those assistants as I hope my kids felt the same way to what I was able to provide for them

[@malia1734]

Who else loves these videos? without molly I would know nothing about what being blind is like! 😊

[@loukol]

thank you so much for this video, molly. i work in a braille center making tactile work for our visually impaired students (math graphs, geography maps, animal pictures, science graphics, etc.) I don’t know braille, my coworker does that portion of the work. I don’t get to see these students, I just have contact with their VI teachers so I really appreciate being able to get a more inside look of these children’s lives. it breaks my heart how i see some teachers/admins trying to cut corners and not give their students the tools they need to succeed, we need an educational reset

[@ThanksHermione]

It's annoying that people get upset about students getting accommodations for their conditions. They're not getting advantages over their peers. They're getting help so they can hopefully catch up with their peers. I understand if schools can't afford certain accommodations and are doing the best with what they have. Some schools though are unsympathetic and refuse to cooperate. They say things like, "We don't owe your kid a cadillac."

[@redsun23x]

So true, SMH to my school district lmao

[@beautyandthebets]

As someone with a disability I can so relate to everything you talked about! I worked so hard to get the grades that everyone else didn't work nearly as hard to get.

[@Maxcallaghanphysics]

Love u molly

[@morganann7759]

Molly, im so sorry you went through all that in school in addition to the bullying. I'm autistic and I had an IEP also in school so I can sorta relate to you in the difficulties of learning but I know blindness and autism are two totally different ball games. You're such a strong, inspirational woman and I admire that so much😊💜

[@raenewnham7490]

Molly I think a lot of sighted people zone out when they’re reading as well. You’re not alone in that I don’t think.

[@ThoughtsOverCoffee]

Thank you so much Molly for opening the conversation about accommodation and modifications in the classroom for those with learning and/or physical disabilities!! To everyone that has to work twice as hard as your peers, don’t grow weary in well doing...you are TWICE as strong!! Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself and voice your needs. Hope everyone has a great school year!

[@tylernelsonn4251]

I’m going to the school for the blind in Austin Tx for a transitional program for ppl 18 plus to help transfer from school to the real world

[@emiliaviolet09]

Good for you

[@heathervanos8975]

This was really interesting! I enjoyed it, thank you ❤

[@maryirwin9591]

I love your videos they teach so much!😊 taking french for school! 👏

[@sarahswetland]

I know how you feel I went through some of the same stuff that you did. Like helpers and the back of the class and extra time on thanks. I am getting better but I am still struggling with school and social lysing. I have a disability. Your videos are really speaking to me in such this hard time in my life.

[@anaikaeledath3658]

Hey Molly! How do you memorize things like speeches without being able to see the words? Do you just listen to it being repeated lots of times? Since you do so much public speaking, what do you do in those situations?

[@raigenhuss7030]

There are braille printers, so she might read them that way

[@anaikaeledath3658]

@@raigenhuss7030 You’re probably right! It just seems interesting to think that when most people would be able to look down at a notecard if they got lost, Molly’s process would probably be different. The Braille printing is probably part of it though!

[@coquigirl0789]

I’m glad you did the shoutout to your VI’s and EA’s because right before that, you seemed a little upset, and it almost seemed like maybe you were resentful towards these people. I’m glad that it isn’t the case, but I can understand you feeling that way especially if you were being picked on in school for having assistance. The shoutout made me feel more at ease about what you were trying to say.

[@Summer_Renee]

Hi!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@mythicalmim]

It's wonderful that your parent's supported you and fought for your education. I needed glasses as a child (my vision has deteriorated to the point that I cannot see clearly past my arm, with my elbow bent at roughly a 120 degree angle), but I didn't get them until 7th grade. It was difficult because, even at the front of the class, I couldn't see the board and I was, like you said, learning without the visual aid during all of my lectures. That didn't work for me since I normally zone out unless I have something to look at or a hands-on-learning activity, so I can't imagine having none of that. Super proud of you for making it through with such good grades!

[@peterditzel6931]

I don’t understand shakesphere at all😂I did so bad in the Romeo and Juliet unit

[@Megan-cy2ep]

I was bullied throughout my whole school life and that was already one of the worst parts of my life.. i can't imagine what it's like when you are being bullied while having a disability.. i would be sobbing if i was in your shoes throughout this video. I also wanna say that i really love your channel and it's so awesome that i can listen to you while working or while riding my bike without having to actually watch the video.. just wanted to leave this here. Thanks ❤️

[@alyssa9711]

Video starts at about 3:00

[@ninasartnibbles345]

I think it’s so wonderful of you to shout out to your IT’s. My IT that I had since first grade until I graduated high school, recently passed away and I feel like she deserved so much more recognition than she has. That woman was like another grandmother to me. She was basically family. Those large print books were thee worst! The smallest font I could see was 18 but that was still with squinting and my nystagmus didn’t tolerate it very well. The most comfortable font for me would be 46 like you but in school I used 22. I’m so grateful that the accommodation technology nowadays is so much better. My son is thriving because of it. All of his textbooks are on an iPad so he can just zoom in with it or listen to the audio book. Also it’s clamped to his desk so he can zoom in on the board to see what his teacher is writing. He’s only in 3rd grade and so far hasn’t been too segregated from his classmates. Unfortunately I’m sure that’ll change as he gets older. I definitely was... I’m pretty sure I just got a pass in 1st grade because the teacher didn’t even try with me. My desk was scooted to the back wall of the classroom away from everyone else and I was never given any work... sadly living in a small town made it so the same bullies in elementary school followed me through Jr high and high school. I was soooo happy when I graduated and moved away.