The LD Advantage
Say Hello to Seth
Q. When did you learn you had dyslexia? If you remember, how did you react?
A. I found out I had dyslexia in the first grade after I was tested for the first time.I didn't really know at the time what it meant. The only thing I knew was things changed.
Q. How do you personally define dyslexia?
A. A different way of learning.
Q. What are some misconceptions people have about dyslexia?
A. Dyslexic people read everything upside down and backwards.
Q. What are some of the positive characteristics dyslexia gives you?
A. My passion of computers. Without computers I would've dropped out of high school and be working at McDonald's or a similar place. I use the computer every day for school and without it I would not be able to function in school.
Q. What are some things your dyslexia makes hard for you?
A. Reading, spelling, note taking, paying attention to the teacher, testing, and standardized testing.
Q. How does dyslexia negatively effect you in a classroom setting? What about any other setting?
A. It is annoying having to go to a quiet room during testing for my voice dictation software. It's hard when you always leave the class during a test. Some students think that you're skipping or you don't have to take any of the tests that they have to take. Some students also think it's unfair to have extra time. They say, "Well, if I had extra time of course I would do better on the test!" When I was younger it was harder to concentrate during class with lots of extraneous noises.
Q. What kind of accommodations do you use in class and how do they help you?
A. I use computers for testing, extra time (1.5) for tests, notetakers, live scribe smart pen for note taking, oral tests, additional notification to faculty, Alternate format Text, and get a room to myself for testing.
Q. Have the majority of your teachers been good at making sure you get your accommodations?
A. yes, some faculty members I have encountered have needed an extra conversation to talk about my accommodations. I had a history teacher at the very beginning of the year I was not terribly fond with. I was not doing very well in the class. I started a conversation with her and we started going over my tests orally. After that we had an understanding for each other. She has been one of my favorite teachers.
Q. Has there been a time where someone such as a teacher or another student disputed your accommodations?
A. Yes, in fourth grade, I started using easy listener which is a piece of technology where the faculty member wears a microphone and I wear a set of headphones. Sounds from the microphones are transmitted directly to the pari of headphones. She thought I would just play with it during class and not pay attention. She was wrong. After I started wearing them I did significantly better in the class. I had another teacher who thought I was plagiarizing because he only saw my classwork with my computer. When I turned in my first paper in the class, he thought I had plagiarized. He couldn't believe the difference from my in class work from my outside work. There are many other stories like these.
Q. What strategies or assistance have you taken advantage of in combating the negative aspects of your learning differences?
A. I've utilized tutors, my moms, my computer, and digital books.
Q. Are you proud to have dyslexia? Why or why not?
A. Yes I am! Without dyslexia, I might've never found my passion for computers. Computers have helped me so much in my life. Without them, I would have dropped out of high school and not have been able to go to college.
Q. What kind of technology helps you combat your dyslexia?
A. Dragon Speak, Kurzweil, Siri, iPad, Live Scribe Smart Pen
Q. If you had the ability to get rid of your dyslexia would you? Why or why not?
A. No, I might have not been able to find my passion and computers...