Amusing stories

[Edwilson]

I was recently talking to our head of HR about Dyslexia and how it affects people in the work place and I was reminded of an amusing story about people not engaging their brain before their mouth, when giving advice to a dyslexic. One day in a lesson I was unsure how to spell something. As a relatively well behaved school child I put my hand up and asked how to spell the word in question. The answer I got was at the time somewhat frustrating but actually quite amusing looking back, especially as he was married to a special needs teacher. His answer was, 'You should have a look in the dictionary.' I then proceeded to get my dictionary out work out where the first letter was in the alphabet and then the second so that I was within about 15 pages of the word. Luckily by this point the teacher realised that he possibly hadn't given the best advice spelt the word for me! I should point out that the reason I remember him is because he was a brilliant teacher and really introduced me to history.

I believe the same thing happens now at school the same thing happens but now it's, 'use the spell checker.' Almost as unhelpful as a dictionary, although you don't have to get it from over 1000 pages of words written in black on a white page in tiny writing. There are many things that can make life that little bit easier and recognising that not everyone has the capability of winning countdown is one of them. Just as I would probably be thrashed by a junior countdown champion! My point is this that nobody is good at everything and so the next time somebody roles their eyes when you ask whether it's ‘now or know’ just remind them how you have helped them out with something they are not so good at!

Maybe others have similar stories you could share about people not thinking before talking when it comes to giving useful advice to a dyslexic!

[digits]

Hello Edwilson. Thanks for the funny story.

Not sure which of my numerous abnormalities causes this, but I often forget where I have placed important things. Of course I try to make a special place for important things, but then I forget that I made a special place for them and I put them somewhere else. So, when I was in school I often forgot my homework, or forgot the book, or forgot we had homework, or never wrote it down , or did not even hear the teacher give the homework in the first place.

I suppose this is more ADD than dyslexia, but it is a similar principle. So, as an adult I was trying to fix myself up with therapy and various classes like DBT and CBT. One day we were given a written assignment. At the next class meeting I did not bring my work, which I had actually done. I told the teacher I had not brought it because I could not find it. "Well!" she said. "You should always put it in the same place!"

[digits]

And another cute one, more apropos to dyslexia..

The instructor is giving very careful instructions to the dyslexic pupil. "Now hold the hammer in your right hand and hold the board in your left hand....No. no! Your OTHER LEFT!"

[Kate_DA]

Oh digits, I am EXACTLY the same - especially when driving, my boyfriend is always shouting "no not that left, the other one!". He mostly just points and says "that way" now. Keeps journeys interesting at least