Dislecksia: A Documentary by Captured Time Productions, LLC

Terri

I too was diagnosed with dyslexia in my late 30's...Yes, in my late 30's. How sad is that! All those years I could of been feeling better about myself and I never knew. It happened when I had to have my eyes checked. I was having a problem with reading smaller print. Anyway, the Doc said my eyes were in great shape, only it was getting to be about that time for me to start looking into reading glasses. Then she mentioned my dyslexia, which I in turn stated, I wasn't aware of....but the moment this was revealed to me, everything from my pass started to make perfect since. I have always struggled with reading, writing and Lord knows, " Spelling." I just thought I would never catch on like the others in school ...you know, a SLOW learner type, that was me! I had " OK " grades in school, just enough to pass me and graduate. But I ranked in the low class as far as my scores went. My parents never knew, they didn't seem to care much as long as I got through High School, that was all that mattered to them. No one ever detected ( or Cared ) that I had some disability. I, like so many others, compensated for my slowness to read, spell or write. "FOCUS," "Pay Attention," "Stop Day Dreaming," "CON-CENTRATE." These are things I heard often from my teachers and my parents. I found ways to get through in class during reading sessions, by reading everything ahead of time, before the others. Knowing if I didn't, when it came time for me to read out loud in class, I would somewhat be ready, if not able to do so, I would look stupid in front of the class. I had to work harder, read the materials over and over and when it came time for the test and I didn't do so well, I felt like such a loser, so stupid and so angry that others didn't even have to work as hard, only to make a higher grade then I. Because of dyslexia I know now why things were so hard for me, it would of been so much easier for me had I known then. I was so shy, and pretty much kept to myself throughout my school years. All because I felt so stupid, that I would never measure up to the other students, always trying to cover up any problem I was having with reading, writing and spelling. What is sad is it took me 39 years to find out I was dyslexic. 39 years to realize that I wasn't stupid, lazy or slow, ...but dyslexic! I can also remember the first time I realized my father could not read very well...I was a young mother at the time. Now, I too wonder if Dad was also suffering from the same thing as I. Now that I know I have dyslexia, I have more of a better outlook for myself. I have ALWAYS had to Re-read material, but luckily for me, I Love to read! Only now it isn't because I can't read it right, I just have to apply more time in doing so. I have always struggled with reading and have always had to try harder then most to get it. But I did it then and I continue to do it now, only now I can smile when I get a word turned around or see it as something else, so it doesn't bother me as much as it did when I was younger. Ahhh, with age comes grace! I am so glad to see a story about such a thing as dyslexia... I hope and pray you will have great success with it and that it will open the eyes to many who know nothing about it and the pains others have to go through to survive it. Please let me know if I can help more. Best wishes!

God Bless You,

Terri

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Dear Harvey,

I have a subject I think every parent of a kid with "dyslexia" should think seriously about. It is due to an experience we have had with David and his desire to attend a public high school.

David began failing in school. not because he didn't understand things but because he wanted to get outta that school. He was getting too many services and he started to refuse them. Uncomfortable conflicts happened when he was being forced to accept services he didn't think he needed but the teachers all agreed he did.

We were told he needed these services so we did the old parental thing of consequences for David refusing to go to school. It didn't really work and David started going downhill.
He was so seriously unhappy. It was strange because what he felt and what his teachers felt were so different and so - really we could have just believed the school and kept punishing David. The director there pulled David aside to talk with him alone about learning to accept his disability. He needed to learn how to accept that he needed services and that he had to work harder than other people and had to accept that he needed this support.

I saw my kid and thought- even though these teachers appear to have good intentions I need to get another opinion. David has a good rationale for wanting to leave - a mature one and reasonable one.

He told me and his dad that he wanted a chance to be in a school where he only got services if he started to need them. He wanted to be in normal classes with a wide variety of kids- he wanted to see how he would do. He felt like he needed that. He told me " Mom the only way I can make them happy is to pretend I need what they say I do when I know I don't need it- I basically have to fail myself to succeed there." These were not the exact words but close to it- I dont' remember exactly .

when I talked to his school - the teachers and administration etc they would not accept that as reasonable and they wanted us to be more strict with him and get him to accept these services- he is just going through a teenage stage. IF you let him leave then you will have given into him.

I took all of his testing to another psychologist to interpret for me- someone who knows all of our schools well.

It turns out his written language scores were fine- some were a little low and some were above average. He only really had worrisome scores in math.

She told us he had every right to feel as he did and she supported his perception that he did not need these supports that are required in the special school.

We left it up to David. THis was after christmas break. David wanted to leave his school immediately and go to the public school. We let him do it. He started two weeks into his second semester- knowing no one- starting later than his peers-left a school of one hundred and entered a school of over 800. His history and english almost quadrupled class size.He had never been in a school this large in his entire life.

His special ed teachers at his old school actually told him he would fail. They told me he would never ever be able to function independently in a normal school. One teacher implied he was going to fail in front of all of his peers.

He passed all his classes this year. He really struggled a lot and needs help sometimes but I think it is because he was being trained to be passive in his study habits- he was dependent on systems the teachers provided.

He hates all schools currently but he likes his highschool enough to go every day and face difficult social and academic challenges.

He went back to get his yearbook at his special school this morning and spend the morning there with his old pals- last day book signing etc. They told me to bring him in in the morning when I asked several months ago.

When he got in there they told him he was not a student and not getting any yearbook. he was not going into any of the classes there either because he is no longer a student.

He called me and I went to get him. they agreed because of my force that he could come the last hour and a half of school.

Ya know what? the administration briskly brushed me off. They did not want him there. Ya know why? they didn't want his peers to see him doing well. I believe that.

I went into his school last month to give a talk about my illustrations and show my work to the art classes. The teacher asked me not to talk about my relationship to David or why he left. She said they are losing too many students and they might get the idea they could go too.

She told me she is not really allowed to have any expectations for assignments in art from the kids because it is too much for them- they have so many academics to do that it wouldn't be fair to expect this out of them.

So- My son is a blacksmith. He can make knives. He is working with making Damascus steel knives out of railroad spikes and bike chains. His knives are incredible and he has so much skill at forge welding that at 15 years old he assists and demonstrates at the Mass College of Art when his teacher goes there as a visiting artist.

My son rocks!

I wanted you to know- he is making it in a normal high school and he knew he needed to go there.

Parents- you gotta listen to your kids- no matter what age they are- they can guide you. Professionals only know so much but the best of them can be well meaning and one hundred percent wrong- they can also get invested in your kid failing and not doing as well as they really could- just know that.

Sorry so long but wanted to share this with you. We struggle a lot with David- his road has been really rough but he is such a shining star to me. He has no idea just how much I feel this no matter what I say but I am so proud of this guy.

Therese

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Scott

For 39 years I struggled with dyslexia. Advanced in reading and spelling and yet there was no comprehension. Reading things 3, 4 and 5 times was normal. Back then there was no such thing as dyslexia. I was always labeled as " not applying himself, needs to work harder, pay attention and focus, etc." Little did they know that I was working harder than anyone else in that classroom. You can tell a student to focus, to concentrate, and all those other things until you're blue in the face, but if they don't have the tools to do that, you're just wasting your breath. I found ways to cope and successfully get through all the confusion I was feeling. Dyslexics can be very crafty in extracting needed information from others. It wasn't until later in life that I saw my niece and nephew going through the same difficulties and the remedy they found, did I see myself as dyslexic. The total transformation of those two kids from struggling students into self-confident learners showed me the way to the Davis Dyslexia Correction Program. It was a simple, natural method that gave them everything they needed to control their dyslexia. Since their success I have also gone through the program and it has affected my life so much that I changed my career path from a successful transportation executive to a facilitator in the Atlanta area for the Davis Dyslexia Association International in Burlingame, CA. Ron Davis's books "The Gift of Dyslexia" and "The Gift of Learning" explain it all. It's all about reactions to confusion caused by various sources, i.e. letters, numbers and symbols in literature, to name a few. I'm not much of writer but I just felt that this method deserves to be given a mention or at least a look-see in relation this great project you are working on.

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Alexandra

Hello Captured Time Productions,

I am a 20 year old Art student at UCLA, and was diagnosed dyslexic just
last year. I have struggled my entire life with reading,writing,and
spelling and always thought it just was a difficult subject for me.
When I finally made it in UCLA, (and that was definitely not because of
my SAT Scores,) I took a basic English Composition class, and well sure
enough after the first essay I wrote my professor needed to discuss my
paper with me. After a long talk about my struggles I followed through
with getting tested for dyslexia. Having good grades all through high
school, no one ever detected I had a disability. I just figured out
ways to compensate for the slowness and struggles. Once I was
diagnosed, I really had a more positive outlook on how I looked at
myself, I finally realized my struggles were not because I did not try
hard enough.

Sorry for the rambling story... I just find the movie you are producing
such a wonderful and amazing idea and well, if there is anyway I could
contribute please contact me.

Alexandra

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Anonymous

I began school as a bright eyed blond boy ready to learn. I came home dejected. From kindergarten to second grade - with a stop of in a holding tank called Transition - I was passed along from teacher to teacher with little results. In second grade I had demanding teacher that after two weeks of hitting the brick wall of my brain decided there was something the matter with me sent to get me tested. Something was up with me but they weren't sure what so the decided it was probably a speech problem. Right. I spent sometime with a speech pathologist to no avail - still couldn't learn and to this day I find myself stuttering a bit. I guess this is when they decided I was dyslexic. The way the school dealt with this was to send me to special ed for a big chunk of my time every day. Here they slowed everything down so much that I really did feel stupid surrounded by a bunch of droolers. By the time the released me back into the class later that day not only was I behind I felt like I should be behind. Finally my parents gave up and sent me to Susan Santora's. At first I hated it - 3 days a week of studying - but as things started to click it became like getting bike one piece at a time. Like any kid getting a bike one spoke at a time I was impatient and wanted more. I remember sitting down with books when I could barely read. I struggled through feigning understanding. But the more Susan helped me learn to compensate the quicker things came to me. By fifth grade I was one of the smarter kids in class. But reading and writing still lead duplicitous lives for me they both act as curse and savior, switching their role whenever they want. My brain is temperamental and even though I have learned to compensate with my disability I still can look at page - even a page I wrote- and be completely baffled. Other than that my dyslexia quieted its troublesome voice until high school. Trying to learn a foreign pushed restart on the whole shit show. I limped through a few semesters of French and Latin stopping once it got past the idiot stages. But when it came time to apply for colleges most top tier schools want at least three to four years of a foreign language. I thought I was fine, admissions counselors are suppose to look us disabled folks differently. I applied to University of North Carolina and was rejected only because I had not taken those requisite four years. After a year a University of Colorado I transferred and got tested at UNC to learn that I was supposedly unable to learn a foreign language in a classroom setting. Funny how that works.

As for writing I think I came to wanting to be a writer like a skinny kids gets muscles. These things meant so much the world around me and evaded me. So once I got my muscles I wanted to flaunt them. Plus my writing was different than everyone else's because I had spent so much time battling inside my head that I had worked a lot of things and stumbled upon other things.

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Catherine

Hi, my name is Catherine and I am 16 years of age. As a child growing up i always had a hard time in school and understanding the information. I would study hours and hours for a test and think that i knew it all but when that day came to take the real deal i would always fail. i never seemed to pass a test no matter how hard i tryed at it. From 1st grade to 6th grade i would spend hours with a different tutors trying to get the help. No matter who i went to no change seemed to be made. I was getting so frustrated and would break down in tears because i would see all my friends who wouldn't even try and pass with A's and me who would try so hard staying up late studying and would fail. I never passed a history test with anything higher than a C-. I was lucky to get a C- but usually i would walk away with not only a sad face but a big fat D or F on my test. it made me feel so hurt inside that i almost wanted to give up. I would spend my weekends at home studying instead of going out with my friends and having a good time. I never thought that succeeding in life was possible. I always knew that something was wrong with me but just never quite understood what was wrong. In the 8th grade i was tested for dyslexia and soon found out the sure enough i was dyslexic. Hearing i was dyslexic wasnt the easiest thing to except. i just felt that i was so stupid and would never succeed. i never gave up but a few times i did come close. as time moved on i got into high school. My freshman year i wasnt doing so hot in English i had failed. The last grading period i some how was able to bring that F up to a C+. getting a C+ in English was amazing. all my life i had always failed and to see that i was capable of getting a C+ made me feel better inside, as time passed on i kept trying and trying and doing what ever it took to keep my grade(s). freshman year ended and sophomore year approached i just kepted trying and trying and trying. First garding period grades come out and i fond out that i ahve A's and B's! I even got an A in history. i never thought that, that day would come to see that i was really capable of making improvment. the feeling i got was so amazing. everyong around me was proud of my work. a few months later i find out that i am now on the honor roll. never in my life have i gotten all A's and B's and definately never on the honor roll. as of today i stand with such confidence and waiting for my junior year to come. It took 7 years to find out what was wrong and 7 years for the confidence in me to come out completely. i never thought that i would experience a day like a do today.

Catherine

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Cheryl & Kelsey

When I read this page I smiled and cried! I am soooo excited! I can not wait to see this with
My 10 year old daughter, Kelsey. Just last month while working on a book report
(torture for the whole family to be sure) she turned to me and said, "Mom, sometimes having dyslexia just sucks…"
I agreed with her, we hugged and kept working :

We use humor to keep going, to get through the hard days and as a way to laugh-mostly at ourselves.
Like the day we drove past our public library and she asked me what is a pubic liberty? :

Smiles and Tears! We can't wait to watch!

A million thank yous to you and your crew!
Cheryl & Kelsey

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George

Hello,

We are very interested in your movie. Both my wife and son are
dyslexic. My wife, Clementine, born and raised in France, had great
difficulties throughout her early education due to reasons that no
one could diagnose dyslexia early on. The local French educational
system at the time had considered putting my wife into programs
designed for the seriously mentally handicapped. Nevertheless, my
wife had eventually left school at age 14, and has been virtually
independent ever since. I would like to add that my wife is one of
the most brilliant people -- with enormous human insight -- that I
have ever known. She has definitely opened my mind, as well as
having changed my life with her perspective.

Our son, Marco, just turned nine years old, and is in the third
grade. Marco was diagnosed with dyslexia about a year and a half
ago. By way of my wife's suspicions of Marco's potential dyslexia,
we researched the internet and found a private tutor -- who
specializes in teaching dyslexic children -- close to our home. Her
name is Heather Schultz, and she holds a Masters Degree in Special
Education. Her approach to remediating dyslexia is through a
technique as founded by Orton Gillingham.

The great misfortune about Marco's circumstance is mainly an issue
with our public school system. Public education literally does not
recognize dyslexia as a learning disorder. Our local elementary
school had offered to put Marco into a program primarily designed for
children with ADHD. However, that is like putting a child with
hearing disorders into a program for quadriplegics. The school
system's paranoia of legal culpability has virtually made their
stance with our child as one of total non commitment.

For our son's sake, we have selected to keep him in the conventional
third grade program as to circumvent additional issues of self
consciousness, and lack of self esteem. Our son, however, is a
wonderful child -- well aware of his dyslexia -- who is coping, so
far, quite well. Marco's remedial training with his dyslexic teacher
has proven to have yielded remarkable results with his ability to
read and write. Moreover, Marco -- like his mother -- is an
incredibly intuitive child who shares an acute insight into human
behavior. He has actually guided me with his wisdom and advise of
countless occasions, and I am almost fifty years old.

The sad thing is that public education has not included this type of
desperately needed special education within their scope of helping
children who are in dire need. Furthermore, how many children with
dyslexia are struggling through school, being put into insignificant
programs that are not designed to help them?

We look forward to seeing the final results of your project. In
fact, about 19 years ago, I was invited to the U.S.C. film school
film festival. One of the student films was a full length
documentary on dyslexia. I was overwhelmed with what I had
discovered. I can only hope that your project may promulgate public
awareness of this condition. If we may be of any help, please don't
hesitate to contact us.

I'd also like to add that the book "Overcoming Dyslexia" by Sally Shaywitz could be a very good source of information for both educators as well as families encountering dyslexia.

Best of success with all your endeavors.

Sincerely,

George

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Katie

I am a 15 year old at Loyola Academy who was just diagnosied with dislecksia. I also thought it was spelled that way. I have been told that I as well am funny, although sometimes I don't think it's ture others say it is. I keep busy by acting. I have to say though, I hate read throughs, and cold readings becuase it is the first time I have seen that material and I am always afraid that I will mess up. One time I was in "The Best Christmas Pagent Ever" and I played Imagine Herdman, at a theatre company just outside of Chicago. It was a good thing that "she" didn't know much about Jesus and what happened on Christmas becuase during the read through I said Herold instead of Herod. I didn't know what happened until everyone was laughing and the director said to keep it becuase it when well with the character. I kept it and while on stage it always got a laugh.
I have to say, fortunatly I have never been made fun of. My friends all joke with me but I just laugh with them, I am glad that I finially found out what my problem was.

Good luck with your documentary and if you ever need an actress, you can always email me. I am always looking for more work.

Katie

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Mary

I read on your website that you are gathering life stories of people with Dyslexia. I am a dyslexia mother of a dyslexic son. Over the past few years I have been working very hard getting him the help I never got. It has brought back a lot of memories and in talking about them I realize how different my life has been from most other people and the reason is due to my dyslexia.

I am from a large Irish Catholic family in NY. When I was young I wrote my name, along side my sisters and brothers names, on the bottom of the coffee table. My mother found out and was mad at all of us but only for a second, until she saw that I wrote her name backwards and she started to laugh. I didn't see why my name was so funny and when I realized it was different I became very embarrassed. That incident started my nickname YRAM which still haunts me even today when my brothers use it.

In elementary Catholic school my second grade teacher told me that using my left hand was the sign of the devil and forced me to write with my right hand. I got my first F in penmanship that year. I was a shy and distant child always afraid I'd be "found out". I knew I was different, maybe stupid but I didn't feel stupid, but I knew I was different. My spelling was always bad. My father's cousin used to correct my thank you notes. "That was so cute calling me Cuzin Peg". Starting in 5th grade I would go to the nurse every day during reading to avoid having to read out loud. If I had to read out loud I would count the paragraphs to see which was going to be mine and I would stop paying attention just to practice the one I would have to say. I was so anxious I would sweat. I remember the time we were playing spelling bee baseball and the bases were loaded and I was up with two outs. Everyone was screaming that they knew I would misspell the word and sure enough I did - surprise I spelled it with a Z and if not for the spell check on this computer I would still have misspelled it.

I put a lot of effort into my studies but never could get the straight A's my other sisters got. I'll never forget in Spanish class the teacher tried to bribe me not to take the regent exam because she knew I would fail and it would reflect poorly on her. I did manage to get into college and told my family I wanted to be a forest ranger - another big joke in the family. I wound up taking Chemistry and switched to Geology. No one in my family even knew what the subject was no less what you do with that degree. I wound up getting a job in the oil industry and have worked here successfully for over 25 years. I am good at visualization and to be a petroleum geologist you have to be able to visualize 2-3 miles inside the earth in three dimensions. I put together million dollar drilling deal and supervise dozens of contractors. Along the way I have met a large community of dyslexic geologists like myself who only realized they had dyslexia because of the research they have done on trying to help their own struggling children.

I can also see the differences in my child with dyslexia. Although he does not get the best grades of the class he can really master a subject that is of interest to him. He is very interested in science and in history. He loves to watch historical fiction movies and listen to family history very intensely. If he is helped getting started, he can write a good research project but he has a lot of difficulty organizing his thoughts. That comes with practice as I now know. He is great at sports and can play any song on his guitar if he hears it once. He will play music for anyone that asks but will not read out loud even when it is a cereal box. He is very discouraged at school and I worry that his defeatist attitude will be his worst enemy in life. We are currently seeking counseling outside of school for this secondary consequence. He is very popular and the other children look to him to lead which may prove to be his best strength if he can find the confidence to augment it.

I hope that you highlight Sally Shawitz in your film. Her book "Overcoming Dyslexia" rang so true to my experience and it was inspiring to learn about her research and her advances in therapy.

Mary

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Tina

Hi

I just wanted to make contact and find out when the film will be completed. I am a mother of 4 (18 yrs 16yrs 14 yrs and 12 yrs) dyslexic children (in varying degrees) and the wife of another.

We have tried (unsuccessfully) to put submissions forward to the NX govt and education system to have things changed here in schools (according to NZ schools Dyslexia does not exist and one should not put labels on children anyway).

I will attach my husband's CV as despite his dyslexia and foreign language he is now sat Medical Exams in 3 different countries in the world (Germany, New Zealand and Australia)

Please keep us informed of your progress and debut.

Thanking you

Tina

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My name is Jami
I am Dyslexic.

I grew up in a beautiful small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, called Ironwood.

I have two loving parents , and a caring sister who is 13 months older than me.

I grew up in a time and town before Learning differences were detected,nor to my knowledge even known about. I was in regular classrooms from the start. I realized I wasn't as bright as other students in my classes early on.

The first time I realized the lack of skills I had was the 1st grade. I remember there was a large chart posted with each Childs name on the Front Blackboard (a reward system) each time a student read a book and wrote a short index report card we would get a star. I remember my stars were few and far in between, I remember wishing I could reach the goal to the end like my classmates and wished for more of those beautiful gold stars, but I think I got maybe 2 or 3. I had to clap and be excited each time others would reach the end and see the excitement on their faces of reaching the end goal. But deep inside I wanted to be the same.

Second grade wasn't much better. I was told by my teacher "I was a Day Dreamer" and to stop "daydreaming" She believed if I could stay focus and on track I wouldn't have the learning problems I did "I just needed to stop "daydreaming", but, daydreaming for me was an escape from the pain of knowing I didn't get it and I wasn't able to keep up with my friends-I didn't get it. I wasn't like everyone else. I would dream about all the wonderful things I could do & all the beautiful places I would see someday when I grew up. I even dreamed someday I would join the Peace Corps. I was a "daydreamer" it was my escape.

I was sent to summer school after second grade and it took the whole summer to teach me how to tell time-I was sincerely happy I could finally tell time. Story Continues....

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The Knights Gift

My Name is Jeremiah I am 9 years old and I am a knight. Not just any Knight but a very smart, creative, curious, masterful Knight. No two knights think alike, but, expecailly me,

Because I have a gift. I have the gift of Dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning difference. I have been able to master many skills faster than the average Knight because of this gift of mine. Swordfighting, Dragonslaying, Jousting, Chief Protector of the King all come so easy for me because of my gift. I know how to think quickly on my feet. Because I have this gift, my mind works so hard on these other things sometimes other areas take a little longer to work att like Dyslexia also has it's challenges too for instance reading, writing, and spelling do not come easy for me. When I had to train to be a Knight the book work was very very hard, but like any great and courageous Knight I didn't give up, and kept at it.

Let me tell you a little bit about how I used my gift to overcome and fight battles that you and I both share.

Sometimes I would fight the Dragon of Backword letters, b and d are very hard so are p and q. They look so much a like to me. And with e, practice and patience I will overcome this Dragon. When I face this dragon, I use my determination, I know I will get it someday.

Sometimes I need to fight the Dragon or Dragons of teasing. For this I use my shield, because I know I am a worthy and honorable knight. And the dragons that are teasing me are really hurting themselves. For this I use my insight to know those kights need to learn more about being honorable.

Sometimes I fight the Dragon of spelling. This one is a tricky one, at times another honorable and worthy Knight will help me.

Sometimes I fight the Dragon of forgetfulness. This one is the most annoying. For this I use my sense of humor, try not to take myself too serious....

Sometimes I fight the Dragon of writing, for this I use my creativily to think up stories and get it onto paper I will worry about the spelling later. But for now I can think up fantastic stories. Who knows maybe I'll be a famous writer someday? Imagination

Sometimes I will fight the Dragon of Math. For this I use the super pwer of persistence and I won't give up, I also use my insight to know I will get it someday J

Sometimes other Knights need a little help with a project they are working on, and because I fight so many battles each day I have enough patience and understanding to give them a hand. It is important to be an honorable and worthy Knight.

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Desmond

Since Desmond’s (Desi’s) birth on September 20, 1994, I have played an active roll in his education. As of first grade Desi’s IQ has not matched up with his grade level and he has been having difficulties in school despite working harder than the average student, extra tutoring, summer school, and special programs such as Brain Gym and Davis Dyslexia Correction Training. Desi has recently tested at working at 3-4 grade levels below his actual grade level, 7th grade. Now at twelve years and nine months of age, I have a clear understanding of how Desi thinks and learns. It was not until Desi was in 5th grade that Desi was tested and diagnosed with dyslexia. In 6th grade Desi was really reaching the end of his limits in trying hard in school, and not having success. At that time I hired a special education lawyer. We found the Gow School for dyslexic boys and Desi applied in April, 2007. In September 2007, Desi started at the Gow School and for the first time in 8 years is enjoying academic success. Story Continues....

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Samer

I heard about your film some time ago last year. I have been waiting eagerly ever since to watch it. You see, not only am I a film maker too, but I am also dyslexic myself. My story is rather complicated; I was born and raised in Lebanon…. during the civil war. my first few years of elementary schooling took place at the German school. it was obvious that I was struggling even back then. I seemed bright and smart and very much like a sponge when it came to learning new things. However, my spelling and my hand writing where atrocious, not to mention my math skills at that point. It was my 1st grade teacher who back in the early 80s suggested to my mother that I may have dyslexia. However, trying to find adequate support and counselling in the middle of a crippling and bloody civil war, was an exercise in futility…. also Lebanon was lagging behind at the time; parents were unwilling to accept that there might be something “wrong” with their childe… especially when it came to “mental conditions”… even though my mother was concerned and wanted to know more and find a way to help me, the tools were not available. And my dad could not be bothered at that time... “There is nothing wrong with him... He is just lazy…. all he needs is a little push and incentive”... Often the little push and incentive basically meant sever beatings for my failings… I find it ridiculously hilarious that people never clue in that their method simply does not work. I am sure my dad meant well and that he was only mimicking what most parents do or did at that time… it has more to do with what he was exposed to during his time as a student (education systems where much more sever in the past.. you know.. that whole “spare the rod spoil the child” adage. I am sure he thought he was doing the right thing but honestly it hurt me and made me regress even further. Story Continues....

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Gautam

Dyslexic, some say it's a blessing and some say it's a curse. Like all things in life, it is what you wan't it to be. It's how you see it. Growing up you go with the flow, you go from school to school not thinking about it. Later on you start to get complexes. When your 9 years old and can't say out loud the Alphabet or even spell it. That hurts you but you burry it.

Life is pretty hard, you beat yourself up, when you make a mistake you get out your pencil and erase the whole line and do it all over again. Life becomes frustrating and you keep wanting to be perfect. But this is human nature if were bad at something we strive to improve ourselves. One person said ''Dyslexic teaches you to work hard, to never give up'' that's true to a certain degree. i'm lazy as hell, but when I put my mind to something It usually get's done. But sometimes doing basic task are so hard you keep trying and trying then leave it alone.

There nothing wrong with not being good at something. Yes there dyslexic in so many different fields many from actors to boxers. I say if there not dyslexic or jewish there not an actor/comedian.

Mabye there English wasn't the best in the world, you could say they gave up and found different areas and excelled in. Maybe that is the problem people think you have to improve your dyslexic, what's wrong with not writing the best English essay in the world? If your good at other things isn't that what matters?. We all give up and why should we have the pressure of fixing this curse (sometimes).

I've noticed that to accept my disability and appreciate it don't like in ignorance i'm dyslexic and proud. And don't believe that being dyslexic gives you special talents just cause your dyslexic doesn't make you a painter or an artist. It's what you fell inside, by not expressing yourself in words maybe your reply on other ways to express yourself.

Some say your being lazy and giving excuse, my advice hand them a Chinese manual or any text from a foreign language and ask them to read it.

They might say 'I can't read it, doesn't make any sense'' welcome to our world, well maybe not that extreme but you get my point.

Dyslexia is an problem not an excuse yes we just have to work harder but please understand we aren't pretending or doing it on purpose.

Being dyslexic is being human and humans are complex creatures. We suffer the same insecurities like anyone else. We all have a complex and are all weak at something.

Just be proud of who you are and if people don't understand you just smile. They got there own complex and issues.

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