Larry H Advocacy Blog: Advocacy for Children with Learning Disabilities
Showing posts with label dyslexia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dyslexia. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Graduation Day: The Impossible Dream Becomes True
Photo courtesy of Sophia Hasenfus
After flunking out of college twice, 40 years previously, because of my then undiscovered learning disabilities, I had the honor of walking in the Springfield College graduation ceremony in May of 2011. I graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a perfect 4.0 straight A grade point average. I am wearing the gold honor cords, signifying that distinction, as well as honor cords from Who's Who Among American College and University Students, and from the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society for Human Services. I also received the Springfield College Humanics Award.
This accomplishment was all the more poignant considering the frustration, shame, and hurt which I suffered for most of my life as a result of having dyslexia (can't read), dysgraphia (can't write), dyscalculia (can't do simple math), and Attention-Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
My college education, changed my life forever.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Family Members After The Final Game Of The Season
Photo courtesy of Sophia Hasenfus
The dream would not have been possible for me without the loving support of my family. Pictured here are family members who were able to attend the final game of my college baseball career. My son Nathaniel, (far left) hooked me up with Dragon Naturally Speaking computer voice recognition software, which enabled me to speak into my computer in order to "write" all of my college papers,and in fact this blog. My wife Karen, (3rd from left) read most of my assignments to me, because of my dyslexia. My 87-year-old father, (5th from left) stopped at ballfields wherever we went to play catcher for me as I honed my pitching skills.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
About Me
I am currently working with children with learning disabilities in the Worcester County, Massachusetts area. I would like to advocate on their behalf and on behalf of children with learning disabilities.
My interest in this topic stems from my own learning disabilities which were undiscovered for most of my life.
At age 58, after finally learning what my own problems were, I went to Springfield College and earned my bachelors degree with the help of a reader, and Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software to help write my papers. I graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I made the junior varsity baseball team and played with kids 19 and 20 years old. During that time my story became national news and I became an inspiration for older people to go back to school and complete their education, and especially for children with learning disabilities, to never give up.
My interest in this topic stems from my own learning disabilities which were undiscovered for most of my life.
At age 58, after finally learning what my own problems were, I went to Springfield College and earned my bachelors degree with the help of a reader, and Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software to help write my papers. I graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I made the junior varsity baseball team and played with kids 19 and 20 years old. During that time my story became national news and I became an inspiration for older people to go back to school and complete their education, and especially for children with learning disabilities, to never give up.
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