At school did you ever hand in a written creative masterpiece only to have the teacher toss it back at you with red crosses complaining "Lack of spelling and grammar"?

In the 1980's I spent my school years being told I was stupid, put in bottom classes wondering why I couldn't do the simplest letters in the right order or even the right way around, this led to me disrupting classes, losing interest and spending my exams either bunking off or cheating.

It wasn't until a perceptive teacher at a college enrolment day convinced me to take a dyslexia test (called a statement) and told me that even with no qualifications I could do a college access course and even go on to university if I wanted.

After four years and a lot of support I have a few qualifications and a job I enjoy but best of all I know I was never stupid. Just like millions of other people I have a special learning style that if encouraged would be capable of producing masterpieces.

Checklist.
Dyslexics may show signs of some of the following:
  Family history of Dyslexic problems
  Quick thinker or do-er
  Forgetting proper words for simple things
  Confused directional words like left/right, up/down
  Slightly clumsy, tripping over
  Good at putting things together
  Reversing letters and numbers (eg: b to d, 36 to 63)
  Problems planning and writing essays
  Very creative thinker
  Excels in computer technology
  Can't spell for toffee

What is Dyslexia?
Dys means "difficulty" and Lexia means "words".
A dyslexic learns at his/her own pace, it is often hereditary. Nowadays with computers, spell check and learning support it seems better for students, although according to the National Dyslexic Association one in ten children are dyslexic and most won't have a "statement", therefore not receiving proper support and attention for their own personal learning style.

If you would like some helpful advice about statementing courses in your area (or would like to come on a free Dyslexia course at the Bridge Educational Centre in Moulsecoomb) call Nicky Woodward on 01323 896 542.
If you want to know more about special provision in GCSE and GCE, here are some great web sites:
www.jwor.com/dyslexia.htm
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk

Some Successful Dyslexics through History.
  Actor Tom Cruise
  PM Winston Churchill
  Singer Cher
  Actress Whoopie Goldberg
  Microsoft's Bill Gates
  Virgin's Richard Branson
  Artist Damien Hurst
  Author/Criminal Jeffrey Archer
  Commedians Michael Barrymore & Mark Thomas
  Even the Education minister David Blunket