Tom,
In my experience I've found those labeled dyslexic to often have the
positive traits you mention.  I've also found that because of their
intelligence, creativity, inquisitive minds, and their desire to work - as
long as what they're learning/working on it logical and meaningful and not
irrelevant - these students learn very quickly.  So, in my opinion, I
believe those labeled dyslexic are role models with strengths/gifts AND that
they are able to learn to read and read well.  So, if the special treatment
in education is transitional and includes really teaching them how to read
and then allowing them to get on with their life, I'm all for it!  If the
special treatment involves decreasing expectations and/or reading things to
them instead of teaching them to read and such - this special treatment
enhances their disability....enhancing their 'disability' as opposed to
providing assistance in teaching these learners so they become 'enabled'.
Based on my experience in teaching dyslexics, I know that they can have
their cake and eat it, too!  However, in my travels on this journey I
haven't found many other educators who believe this.  Any thoughts?
Best,
Nora


Nora Chahbazi, President
EBLI Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction
Ounce of Prevention Reading Center
www.ebli.org
810.732.4810
fax 810.732.0366
 
        

-----Original Message-----
From: learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of tsticht at znet.com
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 1:44 PM
To: learningdisabilities at nifl.gov
Subject: [LearningDisabilities 4268] Dyslexia Awareness Week in the UK

Greetings all!

This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week in the UK. One of the strands of
interest in dyslexia that I have observed is what one book now calls The
Gift of Dyslexia.

On the Joe Public Blog of the Guardian, a column called The Other Side of
Dyslexia states:

Quote: This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week and the focus is on the
strengths of dyslexia. The good news for all those who have to face up to
dyslexia is that we are generally individuals of higher than average IQ,
born with inquisitive minds and a strong work ethic, who with diligent
effort can not only learn to perform everyday tasks as well as
non-dyslexics, we can go on to become high achievers.End Quote

The blog goes on to list famous folks like Leonardo Da Vinci etc. to support
the idea that contrary to what a lot of folks think, dyslexia may actually
be a positive condition to be appreciated rather than a negative condition
to be remediated.

I wonder what members of this discussion list think. Is dyslexia a condition
that renders one as disabled and entitled to special treatment in education,
or as a superior condition that enables one to stand as a role model for
others to strive to emulate, like Da Vinci, Tom Cruise (?), etc?

Tom Sticht



----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Learning Disabilities mailing list
LearningDisabilities at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilities
Email delivered to ooprc at comcast.net