My Life Companion

Because of you

I see a different angle.

You make me, who I am,

But what would life be without you?

A life free of constant frustration,

A chance to see things "correctly"

To say exactly what I want to say

And write exactly what I have to write.

But without you

Would I have anything to write?

Anything to say?

Because of you

You have made me who I am

I am tenacious. I have learned to never give up. Never.

I am goal-oriented. I always have something to work toward.

I am a problem solver. I have nontraditional problem solving skills which count when time is at a premium or a unique solution is needed.

I am a motivator. I know what it takes to get myself and others to new heights.

I am an effective leader. I know my limitations so I delegate tasks and authority to those who can get the job done.

I have empathy. I have been the odd one out, the misfit of the class, called  dumb.

Because of you,

 I have a poem?

Click here to print

Nice poster for staffroom

I had told Rick he was given a gift at one stage.

He told me he wanted to give it back he wanted a refund.

The bottom line and the simple key to success in coping with a LD are to manage it, recognize it, and accept that it exists. I have learned to embrace the lifelong interventions and most importantly, I do not let the notion that I have a LD control my life. Yes, dyslexia has been my constant companion, but it is not what I am.

After accepting his LD he has accepted the gift it just takes time.

Why Dyslexia is a Gift

The mental function that causes dyslexia is a gift in the truest sense of the word: a natural ability, a talent. It is something special that enhances the individual.

" Dyslexics aren’t all the same, but they do share special traits: "

• They can utilize the brain’s ability to alter and create perceptions (the primary ability)
• They are highly aware of their environment
• They are curious about how things work
• They think mainly in pictures instead of words
• They are highly intuitive and insightful
• They think and perceive multi-dimensionally (using all the senses)
• They have vivid imaginations

Give hope

The following exercise has a great effect on children, and can be carried out by a parent, or a teacher, or, if at all possible, both together with the child, who needs to be on his own (not in a group situation). Take a sheet of paper and make two columns: in one column put 'Things I am good at' and in the other 'Things that I am not so good at'

Take about five or ten minutes of discussion with the child for you to write a list of things that the child is - from an objective point of view - successful at. These will include such skills as swimming, sports, caring for pets, making a collection, dancing, drama, singing, art, painting, drawing, and so on. In the 'Not so good' column let the child tell you the things like spelling and writing that he really finds hard. The list will look something like this, depending of course on each child's interests:

The evidence is staring the child in the face: there are far more things that he is good at than things he has difficulties with. He can't possibly be stupid. He is clearly a successful person.

But he may well say that the things he is weak at are the things that matter in life. If you can't spell, how can you pass exams and get a job? This is the stage at which you have to argue - not tell - and say such things as 'What do you value people for - because they are good at spelling? Of course not. You value people for all sorts of qualities, especially their ability to be friendly, get on with you, consider your needs, think of other people before themselves and so on. It's up to you to keep the argument going until the child can really begin to see himself in a new light - as a successful person who just happens to have been born with a small handicap. Like being color-blind. It's not his fault. It's not because he doesn't try hard enough (as, unfortunately, many teachers will have told him).

Seeing himself in a new light can be a turning point for the child - whatever his or her age - and this new-born self-confidence can lay the foundation for the special kind of learning he needs to build up the spelling and writing skills that his fellow pupils find so much easier to acquire.

But it's not an over-night change, and it needs carefully nurturing over the coming month. The list should be carefully preserved and pinned up at home in the kitchen for all to see. He needs praise, gold stars, credits, and certificates over the coming weeks for things he does in school - of a non-cademic nature - which are commendable: helping a new pupil to settle in, co-operating well in a games session, coming up with a fresh creative idea for art, and so on. The certificates he receives for these valuable activities may be the first he has ever received in his entire school career.

Placematt

Click on piture or go to downloads

Placematt, spinners and dice to make