Non-fiction / Can you read what I ese?
Can You Read what I ees?
Carlene Coney smart 2006
• What do Bruce Jenner, Tom Cruise, Agatha Christie, Cher and Henry Winkler have in common?
How about:
• Ann Bancroft – The first woman in history to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles. Web site: http://www.yourexpedition.com
• David Boies – Trial lawyer whose high-profile clients have included former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Jr., Napster, and the U.S. Justice Dept. in its antitrust suit against Microsoft.
• Erin Brokovich – Real-life heroine who exposed a cover-up by a major California utility that was contaminating the local water supply. Their actions had severe, even deadly consequences to the members of the community. With her help, the townspeople were awarded a $333 million settlement, the largest ever in a U.S. direct-action lawsuit. (Julia Roberts played her in the movie with the same name.)
• Stephen J. Cannell – Author and Emmy Award-winning TV producer and writer, who has created or co-created more than 38 shows, of which he has scripted more than 350 episodes and produced or executive produced more than 1,500 episodes. His hits include “The Rockford Files,” “A-Team,” “21 Jump Street,” “Wiseguy,” “Renegade” and “Silk Stalkings.” Web site: http://www.cannell.com
• Whoopi Goldberg – Actor and comedian, winner of an Academy Award for her supporting role in “Ghost,” also an Academy Award nomination for her role in “The Color Purple.” Web site: http://www.whoopi.com
They all have dyslexia.
Is dyslexia a gift?
Dyslexic people are visual, multi-dimensional thinkers. We are intuitive and highly creative, and excel at hands-on learning. Because we think in pictures, it is sometimes hard for us to understand letters, numbers, symbols, and written words.
Dyslexics are people of average or above-average intelligence who have severe difficulty in reading, writing, spelling and sometimes math.
Dyslexia can’t be seen, but it’s real. The person suffering with it often feels stupid, and many times is labeled so.
David Worthington, a 25-year-old certified nurse assistant student, recalled his school years in Bangor.
’’I used to hate it when the teacher called on me or I had to pass in homework,’’ he said. ’’I would lose my papers. When I had to read out loud, I would pretend to lose my place and the teacher would move on to someone else.
’’In grade school I found it paid to be quiet, staying in the background. In high school you cut up, and make wise cracks. Anything to get by. I was a junior in high school before they found my problem.’‘
Identifying the problems is a first step, but it takes work over a number or years to overcome the condition.
Dan Thomas didn’t get his diagnosis until his first year in college; an observant teacher picked up on his very small handwriting, and that his high verbal skills didn’t line up with his written work.
According to Dr. Melvin Levine, of the National Center for Learning Disabilities in New York, ’’A learning disability interferes with the ability to store, process or produce information.’‘
Attention can be affected. A child may do well one minute and poorly the next. A math problem that was solved Tuesday may be impossible on Wednesday. Then, the child gets accused of not really trying; because they were able to do something well once in awhile.
’’The most important thing a parent can do for their learning-disabled child is to be very involved from the beginning,’’ Levine said. ’’Educate yourself about the child’s condition and seek ways to help the child learn. They can learn, they just have to learn by several methods. It pays to start early, because they become frustrated, and often that frustration leads to acting out and other inappropriate behavior and self-esteem problems.’‘
Dyslexia affects people from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and male and female alike.
And there are some symptoms that all those affected seem to share:
A family history of reading problems.
Average or above average IQ, and sometimes a proficiency in math.
A dislike of reading.
Letter and word reversal.
Problems with left/right, coordination.
Sometimes a difficulty pronouncing new words, reversing letters, trouble applying what has been read to social or learning situations.
Poor concentration
There are many problem areas that do not necessarily imply a learning disorder but should be thought of as potential red flags.
How is Dyslexia recognized?
Parents should take the child to a family doctor for a complete physical first to rule out medical problems, such as hearing and vision.
Then, someone familiar with learning disabilities should do a psycho-educational evaluation, either through the school or privately.
Before the tests, parents should learn how long it will take, what kind of information is provided after the test and what specific suggestions to provide the child’s teacher, the person who will work with the child and your family.
Parents should learn about the people doing the testing, their experience and the types of tests to be used. More is needed than an intelligence test and screening test for achievement.
All areas should be assessed. In areas of weakness, more than one test should be performed, and if specific deficits are found they should be considered when choosing or interpreting the intelligence measures.
If a child has trouble expressing ideas or understanding language, a non-verbal measurement of intelligence should be done.
If the evaluation is private, parents should find out the cost and if the school will accept it. If the school doesn’t offer the testing, you should find out if the person you plan to have do the testing is acceptable.
Once tested, a re-test should be performed within three years, sooner if the program doesn’t seem to be working.
If you suspect a problem, get testing; don’t take the wait-and-see attitude that’s so prevalent in the system. Early treatment is crucial.
The child or teen needs to understand he is not dumb, crazy or lazy, but that he’s struggling to overcome a problem. Everything has to be custom-fitted to the child’s learning style.
Don’t assume anything.
Build on the strengths, while working to define and strengthen weakness.
Is all the effort worth it in the long run?
’’I still have some problems, but I’ve learned how to read,’’ Thomas said. ’’I sometimes forget things easily, but I can also picture a project finished, rather than see it in separate pieces. I’m good with my hands and making things.’’ Thomas learned to use strong verbal skills to become the manager of over 600 people in the company he works for.
That kind of success is common.
’’Many of these children will become remarkable adults, if they can survive schooling without becoming demoralized,’’ said Dr. Levine. ’’They can go on to exploit their special talents in ways both personally satisfying and socially invaluable. After all, people with learning disabilities are simply extreme examples of our natural human diversity.
Nobody has a ‘perfect brain.’
Lexington, N.C. – Roger Saunders, a psychologist who pioneered the diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia, died Feb. 23. Saunders, who spent most of his professional career in the Baltimore area, began identifying dyslexia in children and adults nearly 50 years ago.
link
Resources:
http://www.dyslexia.com/
http://www.dyslexiamylife.org/
http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t3.html
Tags: Henry Winkler, dyslexia, disabilities, reading
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March 29, 2006
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How I really was informed by this work. I never knew so much about dyslexia. There are web links for additional info. I felt that whoever wrote this definitaly made their point. I think if they wanted to get the word out about dyslexia they def did. Good for you.
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