"How to Survive and Succeed at Work".
by Sylvia Moody.
Dr. Sylvia Moody, co-author of the Dyslexia Adults Link Book of the year 2000, entitled ‘Dyslexia in the Workplace’, and author of the highly acclaimed ‘DYSLEXIA: A Teenager’s Guide’ (Vermillion, 2004), has recently produced another prospective bestseller.
With ‘Dyslexia, How to survive and succeed at work’, Dr. Moody has comfortably and elegantly - in semi formal style - filled a niche in the adult dyslexia support material currently available.
She shows a keen insight in the difficulties that adult dyslexics/dyspraxics might face in the workplace.
She therefore highlights at least four important areas that deal with possible issues, viz.
• Work organisation and time management
• Improving writing skills
• Dyspraxia advice
• Dealing with emotions.
Many years of working with adult dyslexics has provided Dr. Moody with a rich bank of experience and numerous case studies that form the base of this easy to read, refreshing, adult dyslexic friendly guide. It feels as though Dr. Moody has managed to address readers individually and make them feel that she fully understands their day-to-day problems in their employment. By regularly quoting the experiences of adult dyslexics in the case studies provided, she enables the dyslexic employee to identify her or his personal case with the ones described in the book.
Dr. Moody’s language, vocabulary, ‘tone of voice’ and text presentation are most appropriate for dyslexics and dyspraxics. The numerous practical hints, tips, skills and strategies provided, will fascinate readers.
The book is divided into three sections, each of which is subdivided into chapters:
A: Dyslexia observed, including a section on assessments. There are checklists for dyslexia as well as dyspraxia (there seems to be a strong case for co-morbidity).
B: Improving skills, including a chapter on how to deal with emotions.
C: Help from the Employer, that also covers Dyslexia and the Law and provides a handy dyslexia guide for employers (that may be photocopied).
Finally, specific equipment is discussed, a list of useful addresses is given as well as a recommendation for further reading followed by a handy key word index.
What struck me pleasantly was the fact that Dr. Moody practises in this book what she preaches in part B. The book is well organized, often the text is interspersed with text boxes, diagrams, lists and bullet points. Each chapter starts with a clear introduction, followed by the main part and ends with a summary in the form of a box with key points discussed. You also find regularly ‘Top Tips’ boxes, with hot, relevant information.
All information is very much up to date as far as the use of computers is concerned. Several fun exercises invite the reader to sample some skill improvement tasks that may familiarise them with otherwise similar but possibly daunting experiences in real life.
Dr. Moody applies a truly holistic approach, by pointing out to the dyslexic
• how to use his/his strengths, ,
• how to deal with emotional, legal and intellectual issues,
• by discussing inter- and intra personal aspects and to be assertive,
• by encouraging (music, movement and) meditation.
The whole presentation is very dyslexic friendly: a light, handy paperback, in off-white paper, easy to read font and letter size with well spaced text and diagrams.
This most affordable guide fills a gap we have long been waiting for and is highly recommended not only for use by adult dyslexics/dyspraxics, but also their employers, line managers, colleagues, tutors, family and friends, in fact, all those who are dealing with dyslexic/dyspraxic adults on a daily basis.
USA
| UK
Eleanor May-Brenneker
- lecturer, Dyslexia Consultant, NLP practitioner, Dir. TOCFE.NL (Thinking and Communication Skills).
Tudor Manor’ Beckenham Place Park BECKENHAM, U.K. BR3 5BP Tel. 020 8658 6657
