Dyslexia

Don't enjoy reading? Struggle with spelling? Love Legos and audiobooks? If so, you might be dyslexic. If you are like most people, you probably think of dyslexia as a learning disability. One that causes you to flip letters and more generally means you’re not very smart. I’m here to tell you that those are misconceptions. Current research shows it’s a difference in how the brain is optimized. Everyone’s brain is different, some people are amazing at music, others at math, and others at reading. I’m sure you are amazing at something. The key is to focus on your strengths while also getting the help you need to become a good reader and speller.

Learning Ally: the 1 in 5 initiative

Dyslexics have a brain that excels at big picture thought process, creativity and outside-the-box problem solving. Which is why one third of all entrepreneurs are dyslexic. Other dyslexic skills are spatial skills (seeing objects in 3D in your head) and creative thinking, which make for great inventors. The downside of dyslexia is our brains are not optimized to read and spell, but with the right kind of tutoring you can become a good reader and speller without losing your unique dyslexic skills. I would never trade being dyslexic, because as I like to say: you can teach a dyslexic to read but how do you teach someone to see 3D in their head?

Learning Ally: the 1 in 5 initiative

My Experience with Dyslexia

Barton Reading and Spelling

“Whenever people talk about dyslexia, it’s important to know that some of the smartest people in the world, major owners of companies, are dyslexic. We just see things differently, so that’s an advantage. I just learn a different way; there’s nothing bad about it.” ~ Charlotte McKinney, American Actress

I was homeschooled through high school, so I was blessed with the ability to use my dyslexic strengths to follow my passions in designing and creating, which you can read more about on the other pages of this website. When I was little, I struggled to read Dr. Seuss and mostly just memorized the pages. When I was 11, my dad noticed I made the same mistakes in spelling that he made, so he researched how to teach kids to spell. In that process, he realized I was dyslexic as was he and my sister. Later that year, I got tested for dyslexia and after a 4-hour test in which I scored in the top 2% for ‘fluid intelligence’ and the bottom 2% in ‘sounds of spelling’, it was concluded that I was definitely dyslexic. My mom tutored me with the Barton Reading and Spelling curriculum for 4 years and I enjoy reading! But the best part is I never lost the gifts that come from having a dyslexic brain. My hope with this website is to spread the word that dyslexia can be a gift, you just need to learn how to read and spell differently and no dyslexic should feel they're broken.

Now that I'm in college, the focus has shifted away from reading and spelling and more to using my tools efficiently. I rarely read text books, opting for using online versions so I can listen with text to speech and reading along. I rely heavily on my keyboard and rarely find myself having to hand write anything, which works much better for me and means I can lean on spell check. I have not attempted to get accommodations as I haven't found them necessary for engineering classes but everyone is different and accommodations are a very valid option at the college level. Oh and every important thing I write still goes though my life appointed editor (my mom) but hey we all could use a little editing sometimes.

Alright, enough with the reading. If you’re like me you would probably rather learn about dyslexia by listening to an audiobook or watching a TED talk. So here are some great resources.

Resources

“My greatest gift in life was being dyslexic. It made me special. It made me different. If I had not been dyslexic, I wouldn’t have needed sports.”

~ Caitlyn Jenner, Olympic Gold Medalist