Archive for June 22nd, 2009

Not Allowing Dyslexia to Get in My Way

Friends have said I’m a great storyteller and I love seeing my literary endeavors turned into books. But, it doesn’t make me a great writer, yet. Many people thought I would never be an author. Who could blame them? I didn’t have great grades in school and was even banished to remedial class in the fourth grade for, ‘not paying attention.’ I was paying attention, I just processed information differently. Years later, after graduating from college, my eye doctor informed me that I was dyslexic. It was somehow a relief because it helped explain many things, including why I was a slow reader.

As it turns out Albert Einstein didn’t have good grades in school and neither did Henry Winkler, who is also dyslexic, and played Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli in the hit television show, Happy Days. I thought ‘The Fonz’ was the coolest guy on television. Learning that Mr. Winkler and I had the same hurdle to leap made me feel better about myself. It was a bigger surprise to find out that my dad has dyslexia, too. He didn’t find out till he was thirty-two and is one of the brightest people I know. So parents please have your child’s vision and hearing checked as early as possible, for their sake.