Article of Note
Can dyslexia be an asset ?
The advantages of dyslexia are extensive , but they often are not seized if the dyslexic student does not have access to quality special educational services .
By John Manzella
I ' m a nationally syndicated columnist , author of several books and a speaker on global business , labor and economic trends . I ’ m also a beneficiary , not a victim , of dyslexia , a learning disability characterized by reading , writing and decoding difficulties . Why do I say beneficiary ? Read on .
As a child , I experienced the difficulties of dyslexia firsthand . Growing up , I often felt dumb , lacked confidence and had low self-esteem . I couldn ’ t read until much later than my classmates , albeit slowly , and continue to have difficulties with math . When paying bills , for example , I still say each number out loud , highlight each digit and review it several times before I hit send on my laptop .
To this day , I still have stomach aches weekday mornings Monday through Friday , but not Saturday or Sunday . This was caused by the anxiety I felt waiting for the school bus and knowing that when I arrived at school , I would not be able to complete tasks , somehow embarrass myself and feel stupid .
Before the Christmas vacation in first grade , I recall being very excited hearing bells ringing in the hallway . Our teacher told us it was Santa ’ s elves putting candy in our boots . We all darted out of the classroom into the hallway . I was shocked to find sticks in my boots . Was I a bad kid ? My teacher , not being familiar with dyslexia , probably thought I was lazy .
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