Lily

Journey Into Dyslexia – The Documentary

 Other dyslexia related  No Responses »
May 302011

In an archive post at businessweek.com there is a report of a study of 102 successful entrepreneurs in the United States. The most striking co-incidence among them is that 35% of them said they were dyslexic. When you compare this to the ‘normal’ rate of 10%, that is incredible.

The study was conducted by Julie Logan in 2007 and also revealed that this same 35% were the most likely to own multiple companies, employ more staff and were more able to delegate tasks.

The success of these dyslexic entrepreneurs was accredited to the way they grew up with dyslexia and the accompanying problems. Finding it hard to read and absorb information, dyslexics quickly learn to seek the most vital information and learn it, they rely less on having to go back and read something again. The other skill required is to be able to trust others, and reliance on others is important when building a business.

There is now a new documentary being aired called “journey into Dyslexia” that profiles dyslexics from different backgrounds. It recounts their struggle through school and how they managed to compensate for their problems as adults. The aim is to look at people’s misperceptions of dyslexia and the implications it holds in the business world and outside of it.

The documentary has been made by successful filmmakers, Alan and Susan Raymond and has just been aired on HBO2 and will be available On Demand until June 5th.

IMHO, this is a remarkable and enlightening piece of work and illustrates nicely the difficulties that growing dyslexics have as children. They are almost forced into thinking along different lines and in developing alternative strategies to cope with their difficulties. It is likely this ability to develop and switch strategies is instrumental in their success in the business world.

You will find other reports of compensated dyslexics on this website. Just pop the term into the search box. For more on this documentary, visit the film maker’s website at http://videoverite.tv/pages/film-JID-about.html


Posted by Lily at 10:12 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Am I Dyslexic?

 Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia  No Responses »
Apr 062011

Well, if you are reading this and asking ‘am I dyslexic’, then it’s a possibility you are! However, to be sure you need to get yourself tested. I’m afraid although the freebies may give you an idea of what to look for which is useful, to be truly clear, you need a professional consultation. The primary reason for this is that we are all different, and although dyslexia is a global term, it has many sub-types that manifest in different ways. It should then come as no surprise that the way that dyslexics may be helped will also differ. There is little point trying to get someone to do the backstroke when they can’t swim! Same with dyslexia remediation programs, they need to be tailored to the individual.

Here, we are just going to give you a selection of some of the possible signs of dyslexia that may seem out of the ordinary.

1. Do you make a lot of mistakes when writing cheques?
2. When making a phone call, do you often mix the numbers up when you dial and/or find it difficult to take messages and record them correctly?
3. Are you a bad speller?
4. Do you frequently find yourself mixing up dates and times and miss appointments.
5. Do you avoid filling out forms as you find them confusing?
6. Do you think you take longer to read a page in a book than other people?
7. Did you find learning your multiplication tables really hard?
8. Can you recite the months of the year out loud and fluently?
9. When reading long words, do you find it hard to get the correct sounds and to get them in the right order?
10. When following directions, do you find it difficult to tell your left from your right?
11. Can you do simple sums in your head without resorting to using your fingers?

So, “am I dyslexic”? If you answer ‘yes’ to the majority of the above, then this is likely.

Please remember this is only a quick dyslexia screening test, it is not a professional assessment and only indicates a pre-disposition towards dyslexia.

The next step should be a professional assessment that you can get via many local education departments or via a dyslexia organisation. They won’t be cheap I’m afraid, and if they offer a remediation program, that won’t be cheap either.

However, if you are still worried about taking that step and want a little more confirmation first, try one of the online dyslexia tests that you have to pay for. The reason for this is that some of these online tests have a lot more research behind them and have been developed by accredited professionals in the field. One such test can be found by CLICKING HERE. These tests are impersonal, so no one will make you feel silly. That said, there is no reason why you should feel embarrassed at a professional testing, you are expected to have difficulty with certain things and no one is going to be judging you.

So, am I dyslexic? Take the plunge, and change your life today.

Posted by Lily at 4:56 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Dyslexia Software – Mind Mapping

 Dyslexia Software  No Responses »
Feb 272011

Dyslexia Software - Buzan's iMindMapUPDATE! Great news….. not only can you now download the 7-day free trial of this really useful program, after the 7 days are up you will get to keep a free license for the basic program!!! OK, so it won’t give you all you want, but this great piece of  user friendly dyslexia software will still be a great boon to you. So go and download it NOW by following the links.


One of the problems with dyslexia is being able to organise information in your head. Actually, this is quite a common problem for those who do not have dyslexia! Mind mapping is a great way to help you get the information that you need down on paper or on computer, this then provides a visual reference that is much easier to access later and to remember.

So, how do mind maps work?

Mind maps are a visual representation of connecting thoughts that ‘spider’ out from a central theme/idea. Using only keywords on each spider is designed to prompt a memory associated with that word for the individual. If you have dyslexia, you are likely to find this a more useful way to absorb information.

Mind mapping can be used to improve study skills for revising for exams, planning projects and essays, organising shopping lists and making everyday plans in your life. Once you understand the concept, you will find it easier to take notes down during talks in a way that you can remember more easily. One way to produce a mind map is to use specially designed software from the creator of mind maps, Tony Buzan. This particular software is called iMindMap which I personally believe is the best and use it all the time.

Let’s look at an example of using a mind map for writing an essay. Having the information you need for an essay in a visual form provides a structure for your essay that is easy to access for dyslexic and non-dyslexics alike. Using some mind mapping software (like the one on the left here), a simple click of a button will change the map into a linear form that will create a good essay structure that includes paragraphs and images easily.

Why this system works so well for dyslexics is because it involves other processes than those related to reading and writing. It is multi-sensory as the process includes the use of colour, shape, images and symbols that ‘lock in’ the information in the brain in a different way. Information is broken down into small chunks so is therefore more accessible and less frightening than long, dense texts.

If you are a visual learner, then mind mapping will suit you as well. Let’s take a closer look at what Tony Buzan’s iMindMap does:

Buzan's iMindMap* Focus In and Out – allows concentration on one part of your Mind Map at a particular time without the visual distraction of the rest of your map.
* Child Mind Maps – to expand your Map and link ideas together.
* Audio Notes – to make voice recordings and attach to your Mind Map branches for extra impact.
* Change the colour of the background of your Map, to make reading it as easy as possible (different colours suit different people).
* Text options – with a range of font, size and colour options, you can choose what suits your learning needs.

iMindMap helps with dyslexia and encourages learning for both adults and children at home, work or in the classroom. Even better, you can get a FREE TRIAL of iMindMap by clicking on the picture on this posting.

Posted by Lily at 2:46 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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