The Gift Of Dyslexia

I was first introduced to The Gift of Dyslexia, by Ron Davis at the end of a social work seminar on learning disabilities, about 7 years ago. At that time I had only recently learned for certain that I had dyslexia myself. This was in spite of the irrefutable evidence of my stumbling through anything that I attempted to read, mixing up the order of phone numbers, spelling words with the letters mixed up, and even writing words on the paper from my thoughts, that were not even needed until four or five words, or even the next sentence later.

These problems have led to a great deal of self-examination, and the development of many coping skills along the way. I still circle my mistakes when writing and go back to try to understand why I might have put a certain word or letter in the place that I did.

The Gift of Dyslexia immediately caught my eye among the many books on the table for sale. One of the letters in the title was backwards, and I had an urge to pull out my pen and circle it. Amidst a throng of people there, poring over the various books, I decided that I should first buy the book, and do any circling on the cover after I got home. Seven years later I've never read the book cover to cover. The list of books I have read cover to cover in my entire life is a short and cherished list. I have, however, spent many hours reading bits and pieces here and there and using it as a resource guide. I have recommended the book to many people, and I continue to recommend it to anyone with an interest in dyslexia. It has given me a great deal of comfort and perspective over the years. I learned from putting the link on this blog that The Gift of Dyslexia is now available on a CD, and I intend to acquire one myself.

I am struck by the wide range of difficulties that dyslexics have symptomatically, and by the range of other diagnosable problems that seem to go hand-in-hand with dyslexia. For example approximately 30% of dyslexics also have ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), including myself. Each different disorder accompanying dyslexia brings its own unique "twist" to the problem. I highly recommend this book to anyone with dyslexia, or to parents of dyslexic children, and to educators in the field.