I Want People to Understand - Dyslexia Is A Gift Not a Stigma!

       

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Apparently something like one in ten people have dyslexia - irrespective of intelligence or background.

I am a professional mentor, working primarily with senior personnel, (both dyslexic and non-dyslexic) in the corporate sector. It was only after-life saving surgery three years ago that I was provided with the opportunity to start work on a self-help book which would allow me to share my mentoring skills and related information with a far wider audience.

'The Achiever's Journey' is based on my experiences, both during the course of my own life and as a mentor. My intention was to weave into the book the personal philosophy behind my mentoring system, which originated with my parents. Being born dyslexic, dyspraxic, with my feet the wrong way round, and put up for adoption at a month old, meant that by the time my parents adopted me at the age of six weeks they really had their work cut out. They could never have foreseen then that their creative methods of dealing with my learning difficulties would become the basis of my own mentoring career, and later a framework for assisting fellow dyslexics.

I wrote the book for the general public, as a self-help manual, not specifically for dyslexics. Little did I know while writing the book that I was embarking on one of the most amazing journeys of my life.

One of my professional colleagues said I must be out of my mind to admit in my book that I am dyslexic and that it could seriously damage my business...

Questions I was asked: "Do dyslexics read a book from the last page to the first?" "How would one know if you were suffering?! from the condition?" "Is dyslexia brain damage?"

I was totally amazed that so many people had differing ideas on what dyslexia actually is. Then I realized that most people have pre-conceived notions of what a dyslexic is; many of these ideas are incorrect.

Unfortunately many people have the same misunderstanding when it comes to dyslexia. But not only is there is no connection between dyslexia and reduced brain power, there is strong evidence of a link between dyslexia and entrepreneurial abilities. One of Britain's best known and most successful international entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson, is dyslexic. And recently a two-year arts project was undertaken by Dyslexia Action UK, to explore the relationship between dyslexia and creativity.

I have always stated that Dyslexia is a gift and not a stigma. In my life I have been affected by the lack of understanding. Two particular incidents stand out, both of which had a great impact on my life. Firstly, in school, when I struggled to spell a word, my teacher said in front of the class, "Are you completely stupid?" I answered that my Mum had told me I definitely wasn't. She replied that as far as she was concerned I definitely was. I was then bullied for months by some children, as a direct result of what she had said. As a young child this really shook my confidence. From then on I withdrew into myself and hardly spoke at all during lessons, in case I got something wrong.

The other incident occurred after I had successfully worked my way up through a large corporation, where I loved my job and got on well with my colleagues. A new director arrived and publicly announced the only downside to his new position was that he had found out the person who had been given the job of inducting him into the company was not only a woman, but even worse, a dyslexic. That person was me. I just had to take it on the chin. Sadly, he used his power to bully me relentlessly, until I finally resigned. This only happened to me once in my entire career, and took place several years ago now. Thankfully these days there are systems in place to help deal with a situation like mine.

After revisiting how dyslexia had affected my life, I finally concluded that dyslexia had never actually been a problem for me. I accept myself exactly as I am; dyslexia only became a problem when misperceived by another.

This leads me to the next surprise: I couldn't understand the sudden unexpected interest in a book that I hadn't even finished, and that no one had seen. But somehow through the jungle telegraph, people I didn't know and had never met, were asking me questions about dyslexia. They had heard of my story and that I had succeeded in life, and were looking for re-assurance that their newly-diagnosed dyslexic child could succeed too, in spite of their dyslexia. I also received interest from fellow dyslexics, who realized that I would probably write the book in a way that would be easier for them to follow and as someone who shared the same difficulties. Others thought they might be dyslexic and wanted to know more.

However, the last experience of this journey of writing the book came when I tried to purchase an interesting book on dyslexia from a large book store, and the member of staff serving me asked if the book was for me. Once he knew it was, he asked in a loud voice (some think you are also deaf if dyslexic) how did I expect to be able to read it if I was dyslexic? He then went on to try and escort me to the audio section of the shop. Once I explained I could read and write, and had in fact just written a book, he apologized. However, as I was still waiting in the queue to pay for my book, he went on to ask, "Do you understand numbers, to be able to put your pin number in?!"

In light of everything I have uncovered during writing the book, I decided to address some of the major issues and also provide useful information. For dyslexics I have created a resource section on "The Achiever's Journey" web site, listing the assistance/information that is available from excellent related organizations. And to help educate the general public about what dyslexia actually is, I have provided (from working with professional dyslexic organizations), simple explanations, and prepared some media information on the subject.

Based on what I have learned, I have also made a conscious decision, that after writing the book my busy schedule in future will include dealing with dyslexia. I have also donated free copies of my books to certain organisations and libraries, to reach those who would benefit from my book, but without the means to purchase it.

After my fascinating life journey so far, I now believe more than ever, Dyslexia is a gift and not a stigma.

Genevieve Dawid is a respected mentor offering dynamic, result-oriented approach to mentoring and personal development. She is the author of The Achievers Journey and writes about her own experiences of living with dyslexia.

The Gift Of Dyslexia: Being Wired Differently, Dyslexics Come Out Of Your Closet To Become Leaders

       

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"Dyslexia"

In a backwoods Oregon logging and farm community grade school, classes 4-8 all in the same room, each year my new teacher was most concerned about my 70-80% hearing deficiency. My "Deafie" mother saw to that. LOL And I thank heavens :)

My inability to spell was attributed to my not hearing. No one ever noticed that I usually had all of the letters in my mis-spelled words... just not in the right order.

I was a sophomore in a Portland, Oregon, BIG-city high school before I ever heard the word dyslexia. Because I was such a slow reader, my school counselor suggested that I take ?A Special Reading Class.?

A "Tkisstascope" that flashed a group of words or numbers ? for a fraction of a second ? onto a classroom screen was used every day in the class. I learned to see the numbers but ? again ? I was writing them down in the wrong order.

The ?Speed Reading? instructor asked me to stay after class one day. Hence, I was ?Informed of," and had a "Word for," my life-long-learning-problem, "Dyslexia."

The ?Spiritual? teacher said that she was Dyslexic also. That many gifted people have had Dyslexia as well. I Am sure that Australian, Evelyn Wood, of ?Reading Dynamic?s fame ? whose program came later ? was dyslexic. She too taught a technique enabling one to read groups of words, whole ideas with each glance.

?Most people consider Dyslexia to be a handicap, Russ,? she said. ?I know better. So did Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, and Leonardo da Vinci. We are wired differently,? she laughed. ?It makes us ?Gifted Ones" better able to communicate directly with God. Learn to enjoy your creativity. I?ve noticed that you are quite mischievous,? my teacher added with a wink.

This is really the 1st time that I have told anyone about my Dyslexia. Not even my sister, brother, or even my mother, were ever informed. I guess it must be my time to come out of my Dyslexia Closet. LOL

Dyslexia might well account for some of the challenges that my children have experienced in schools? My son, Douglas, is ?Left-handed.? My mother wouldn?t allow me to be. Mom was appalled when I refused to change Douglas to becoming ?Right-handed,? as she had switched me. Mother did insist that my son hold his fork in the ?Right? hand.

As for me, I Am ?Ambidyslextrous.? Yup, I did it again. I?ve just now coined a new, "Right-meaningful" word. ? Rascal Russ Miles 2007. I decided that I should post this "Right-Up" as an ezine article. Perhaps my disclosure will bring some other Dyslexics out of their Respective, Restrictive, Closed Closets?

(NKJV) John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

We can ?Come out!? Not as victims, but rather as the Kings, the Princes, the Queens, and the Princesses. We ARE ?God?s Chosen Compassionate Rulers Of This Planet Earth.? Quit allowing others to bully you! Jesus didn't let Himself be pushed around. He knew Whom He was, and IS, and He can again manifest that "Perfection" through US :The Perfect Lamb of God! Jesus was "Dyslexic" also.

(NASB) Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Rascal Russ Miles ? 2007

Rascal Russ Miles - "An Apostle" - is author of the novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO. A ?Seasoned Real Estate NAR? Broker,? Rascal Russ was ~ for 5 hard years ~ increasingly disabled by "Incurable" Multiple Sclerosis. Now "Cured", Rascal writes books & articles on varied subjects, sells Nutritional MLM products. HEALTH!

Via his personal Rascal's website, http://www.Jesus4You.ws, "Rascal's Blog", & his ezine articles themselves, Rascal maintains personal contact with those that e-mail him, and those whom he believes the God of this Universe has joined together with him as per Destiny's Devine Plan of Salvation for this Planet Earth!