The LD Advantage
Q. When did you first learn you had dyslexia? If you remember how did you react?
A. I learned in tenth grade but my teacher in first grade knew something was up because I could't read. I wasn't fully diagnosed until 10th grade so I just thought the whole time I was a freak. My friends were smarter then me and I sucked at math, reading, and spelling. As I got older, the less abstract material started to make sense and it was such a relief to finally put a name on it. I thought I was going to have some learning issue no one has ever hear about but dyslexia has a whole community and is popular known.
Q. How do you personally define dyslexia?
A. A learning difference where you have to work harder to comprehend abstract words, sounds, letters and make them coherent. This allows for you to think outside the box and be sympathetic, creative, smart and talented in areas others are not.
Q. What are some misconceptions people have about dyslexia?
A. That we can't read at all and will never be able to improve our reading skills. That we are stupid and can't go to hard colleges. That it is some excuse for being a slow reader.
Q. What are some of the positive characteristics dyslexia gives you?
A. - I am a great creative writer
- I am good at writing songs
- I am good at telling stories
- I am good at making sculptures
- I can see things in different ways
- I can act
- I can be fantastically friendly
- I can identify with others
- I can sing
Q. What are some things your dyslexia makes hard for you?
A. - Spelling
- Reading outloud
- Being slow at homework
- not following directions because I misread them
- Making silly errors on math tests where I write a 9 instead of a 6
Q. How does dyslexia negatively effect you in a classroom setting? What about any other setting?
A. It makes me work twice as hard to keep up and motivates me to prove to everyone else that I can be smart and be a 4.0 student too. I constantly compare myself and stress myself out. I feel constant pressure from myself to prove to others I can do everything. My friends laugh at me and make fun of my silly mistakes and I never say anything to them because I don't want to make them feel bad but it just makes me feel bad.
Q. What kind of accommodations do you use in class and how do they help you?
A. I get extra time and use a computer. Extra time is amazing because I can read the directions at a good pace. Computers are also amazing because there is spell check. Instead of spending the whole time worried about spelling and reading the questions, I actually have time to answer the questions and show that I know the material.
Q. Have the majority of your teachers been good at making sure you get your accommodations?
A. Yes
Q. Has there been a time where someone such as a teacher or another student has disputed your accommodations?
A. Nope - they have just been really strict in having proof and only giving me exactly double the time and no more - which is annoying.
Q. What strategies or assistance have you taken advantage of in combating the negative aspects of your learning difference?
A. Tutor, my mom, I listen to audio books and follow along in my book, highlighters, hand written study guides, my dad working with me, and asking for help from a teacher.
Q. Are you proud to have dyslexia?
A. Yes - otherwise I would be boring!
Q. What kind of technology helps you combat your dyslexia?
A. Using my computer
Q. If you had the ability to get rid of your dyslexia would you? Why or why not?
A. Nope! - I wouldn't be creative or have any of the talents that make me me. I would just be like everyone else. I have learned how to work hard for something I want and not give up because it doesn't come easily to me. If I didn't have a learning difference I don't think I would be motivated. I love dyslexia - i see the world differently and that is irreplaceable.
Meet Eliza