Dyslexics CAN

Both my friend's children have dyslexia. The first one is quite severely dyslexic.

Both, when assessed by an educational psychologist, had IQs that put them among the brightest 2%of population in the country. One went to university and has had a successful career since, the other got an apprenticeship with a major IT company, completed it early because he was so bright and he too has a very successful career.

DH was also branded "stupid" at school. It was only when the school told us that DD2 was having problems when she was about 6 that we got a diagnosis of Dyslexia. She got help at school and out, including the coloured glasses, and passed exams, going on to manage a shop.
DH became a railway apprentice at 16 and has just retired from railway management. He also passed GCSE English a couple of years ago with extra help because of his dyslexia.

Would mention friends daighter also used those coloured lense glasses which really made a diffeence.

My friend two children both are dyslexic . Her son got a first in his degree and is now earning mega bucks as chief designer in a large company and her daughter who still struggles, through hard work and good personality worked ending ip as manager with a number of staff. When she was young i know my friend despaired, but both have done extrememly well. Nil desperandum. All has worked out well.

My lovely OH is severely dyslexic and went to school for special needs, not because he was stupid, but they didnt know what else to do with him, in mainstream school they left him to sit and play in the corner.Not only is reading and spelling a problem,memory is also affected,and information cannot be retained.Life with him is unorganised and can be chaotic at times where his coping mechanisms means he leaves things all over ,But he is the kindest most hardworking man who can dismantle an engine and replace parts and he has sucessfully completed an NVQ2
and also his CPC license which for him is a huge acievment,he is perceptive ,intuitive,loyal and I love him dearly as he has supported us financially and kept a roof over our heads and been an amazing step dad to E

That 'lazy" label is so often used, I think it's because dyslexic children are bright and intelligent and some teachers (who should know better) think they are just not working hard enough. Thank goodness for the more enlightened ones.

DH is dyslexic and is a scientist. DS is dyslexic and is a CEO. Both have struggled in their own way but they've done good and I'm proud of their achievements.

DH was written off at school as lazy good for nothing but was, in fact, dyslexic. He developed his own strategies to cope and can read and write although his spelling is sometimes a bit . He started off doing manual work because he thought that's all he was capable of but eventually realised that he could do whatever he wanted. When he had to give up work to care for me he was an Area Manager and dealt with all the paperwork that involved.

My DD was totally crushed at her primary school as she could not keep up with the written work (or the maths to be fair!) and was slightly written off. It did not help that her older sister was very bright as indeed was/is she. I moved her at age 9 to a Steiner school where the teacher in her class said he was not going to try and teach her anything at all to start with as the priority was to regain her self-confidence. He concentrated on the things that she was really good at - music and art - and the formal learning was channeled via this. I will be forever grateful to that man - he was a bit off-the-wall but was just what my DD needed.

Self-confidence is critical with folk with dyslexia.

DGC has coloured lenses too. Makes an incredible difference to reading.

ps @Trisher - I'm thinking of asking GN to change my username to PatF, because ours are so alike.

Trisher - my husband was never diagnosed when he was at school. 60 years ago they weren't interested.
I suppose it was me who diagnosed him (I was an E.P.)

I used to work with a lovely care assistant who had dyslexia. She could barely write, and was afraid of the paperwork involved with the job. She went to see an expert in Glasgow who prescribed her coloured spectacles. The lenses were yellow. When wearing them the words stayed still on the page! This girl went on to take her nursing degree, and has never been happier.

Oh I so agree with that and with building the child's confidence that it is reading that is the problem and he/she is a bright intelligent person with loads of ability.

It really is all in the schooling coupled with early diagnosis. My dear niece had all of these and now has a doctrate, having first obtained a double first at university, followed by an MA.

My nephew is dyslexic and struggled immensely at school and left early at 16. He took a job washing pots at their local pub (they live in the country) and the mums of his former classmates would corner my sister-in-law from time to time with "Is he still washing pots?". Four years later he is a much sought after chef and "doing very nicely, thank you".

So it's not always about qualifications either.

I've written before about my husband, who is dyslexic.
He trained in radio, then TV, then electronics, and built up a successful business - 6+ shops in various parts of Hull where we used to live.
He worked very hard ( 24/7 as they say.)

My daughter manages a multi million pound business with a huge number of staff. She is very successful and highly thought of in her field. She overcomes her dyslexia daily whilst she doesn't hide it she manages it so well most people she works with have no idea.

It's wonderful to hear these. Dyslexia is a problem but knowing people can achieve and are not labelled and regarded with pity is something to celebrate. Congratulations to all of them!

My son spent all his school life being told and believing he was stupid. Towards the end of his schooling he was diagnosed with a very rare type of dyslexia that would have put him in the special needs category. The specialist was amazed he'd managed so well. He couldn't wait to leave school and would never have gone into further education He has used the skills he learnt trying to cover up his problems with reading to his advantage. His memory is amazing. His ability to stay calm and follow and give clear instructions in a fast moving situation are admired by his colleagues. He has reached the very top of his chosen profession. He lectures diplomats all over the world. On top of that he's just a lovely man who has never forgotten his struggle and so supports younger colleagues to overcome their problems. I'm unashamedly proud of him.

My daughter dyslexic and dyspraxic has just been given her own team at work. It has been a huge achievement as she has struggled so much over the years. We are so proud of her.
Her dyslexia is what inspired me to enhance my teaching skills by studying for additional qualifications in dyslexia and learning difficulties.
Also my severely dyslexic nephew is a chartered accountant and has just had a huge promotion with a prestigious foreign bank.

Yes, my DD's MA was hard won and in many ways for me that increases its value

I think you will all know about this but I am very happy to offer the up-side again. My daughter has just completed her Masters (we wait!).

I think the thing that warms me is that she is achieving as well as I believe she could have done without the (severe) dyslexia. Lots of hard work and very, very tiring at times but most of us have limitations which hard work and being tired are worth in order to overcome them and succeed.

My DD has a MA!!

My friend's daughter is significantly dyslexic and struggled throughout primary school. She has just gained 7 A's in her Nat 5 exams (Scots O/standard grade) with the help of a scribe, extra time and a lot of hard work. She's now studying for 5 Highers.