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Secretary: John Bradford

Copyright © Dyslexia Adults Link
(but articles may be printed out for
your own personal use only).

How should I start? I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was a Senior in High School, that was twenty-four years ago.

School

That wasn’t the first diagnosis of my reading and writing problems. It first started in First grade when I was introduced to reading and writing.

That is when my parents where told that I was having difficulty and was unable to learn Phonics.

I was never told of my problem from my parents or teachers. I was just past through in the educational system.

I always got by with C’s and D’s. It was so easy for everyone else.

I was always placed in special education class.

At that time no one knew what was wrong with me. Why could I not read or write like the rest of the students.

Art

I always excelled in art and enjoyed doing something that the other kids in class had difficulty with.

I knew this when my seventh grade teacher Miss. Self had the class do a test on free-hand drawing. We had 15 minutes to draw our hand.

I was free... this was easy to me but I thought I did bad job on my drawing. I was so wrong... finally I was the best in the class.

From there I took drafting class. I was the only girl in a class of 25 boys.

I was the only student that was getting A’s, A+’s. The other students thought I was teachers pet.

The harassment was so bad that Mr. Keith got in front of the class and told them I worked and deserved the grades.

Then a week later in drafting class Mr. Keith called on me to read the ruler in front of everyone.

Mr. Keith did not know of my hidden problem. That it was very difficult for me to read and understand the ruler.

I was humiliated in front of the class. Mr. Keith was shocked... how could I do the work but could not understand the ruler.

Mr. Keith asked me if anyone did my work for me. I told him NO.

Mr. Keith helped me that day with the ruler to understand the different sides and scales.

This was the first in many years of having to prove myself to others.

Math

Seventh grade math was tough, it was fractions. It was the ruler all over again.

I had a great math teacher... I wish I could remember her name, I owe her a lot.

She saw that I just was not getting it. She took time out to help me to understand the fractions and adding them.

I did get it and was so happy to have her as my teacher.

Most of my teachers noticed that I had problems with reading and writing. They worked with me to find out if I was learner.

Some of them would give me verbal test with a TA when the rest of the class was taking the written test.

I was able to get the C’ and D’s to B- and C+. Also the teacher knew that I was learner.

But, I was passed and moved to the next grade.

The biggest move was when my parents moved to Spokane, Washington.

I was coming from the California educational system in the 1970’s.

I was a Sophomore when my parents moved. I was 15, and scared.

All of my teachers and staff knew me... knew of my hidden problem. How or would the new teachers know of my problem.

Because of the help that I received from the teachers in California, I transfered with almost all A’s.

First day of school in a new school. I was not new to this but, for the past 4 years I was watched by and helped from my teachers in California.

My teachers wanted me to succeed so some of them wrote letters for my new teachers in Washington.

In Photography class I put together a small portfolio of my work that I did to show the teacher in Washington.

From day one I was out casted not because of my hidden problem but I was from California.

I was now having to win over my teachers to help me.

They did not want to let me in any of the classed that I excelled at: art, drawing & painting, and photography. I had to prove myself to them.

I finally did win my battle.

I was also starting to feel the tension of not being able to keep up like I was able to in California.

My grades where going down hill and the problem was getting worse.

My teachers did not understand that I could not read or write at a Senior grade level.

I did not know why.

I could see that the others students did not have a difficulty with there work.

I felt like I was a 8 but, I wasn’t stupid.

I told my parents and told them of my problems in school.

Then the school district wanted me to go and have some new testing that was being done.

That was the day I was tested for a new disorder called Dyslexia.

To find out that this was it.

I was not going to be like the rest of the kids in school. I was different and on one could help me.

I was alone.

Leaving School

I could not go back to school and my parents and I decided for me to be removed from the school system.

You can say I had permission to leave the school system legally based upon there findings.

I left with all F’s on my last report card.

I did get my GED and promised my parents that I would get my High School Diploma.

I was now 19 years old and need to find my place in society.

With my GED I went and registered for community college for Photography.

I was so scared not knowing if I could do it again. I also saw an ad in the want ads for traveling photographers.

I went on the interview and got the job to attend training in Reno, NV. I decided to go for the job in Reno.

It was an experience but, not the life that I wanted.

I needed to find work that did not require me to write.

I went back to Spokane, WA and worked in food and retail.

But, I wanted more out of life. I decide to move back to California.

With $500.00 and my car packed full, I was off to California.

I shared a house with a past high school friend. I found a job as a delivery driver for a small printing company.

I would deliver printing to large company art departments.
One day I asked one of the designers, how do you learn to do what you do and what do you call it.

I knew I could do that kind a work. I needed to look into some schools.

Then I was a driver for a construction company delivering mail to the sites in San Diego.

Then a city bus rear ended me in the company car.

The company was advised to let me go. I needed to find a different job.

Art College

Because of the accident I went back to high school and got my diploma. I then found a Art College that taut Production Art.

This was perfect for me. I was passing the class, with out even reading a book.

All I had to do was past the tests, and I did.

I had a career not a job. I was great at it and I did not have to write or proof anything.

I was on my way.

I would move to different companies looking for a better company to work for or most of all an Agency.

Working for the first agency was the start of something that I will never forget.

I was introduced to a computer.

Computers

This was the new generation of tools for a Artist. I was a Production Artist at the agency and a new type of computer was coming out... Macintosh.

I wanted to learn this computer, I wanted to be the best at it. So, I faced my fear and went back to Art College to learn, Computer Graphic Design.

Again, like before I was getting A’s without opening a book.

This was easy for me, the rest of the students just did not get it.
I was on my way.

Decisions

It was 2 weeks before I was to graduate when the agency, wanted me to quit school or lose my job.

I was shocked...I was working full time and going to school at night full time. This is what they wanted and everyone that I work with wanted me to quit school.

I found something that I could do with having to read or write and I was great at it.

I told them GOOD BYE... I had one of the Top 10 jobs to have for the next decade.

I worked for some more Agencies, Design Firms and A Corporate in house art department.

I was now getting let go because I was too smart at what I did.

So, I started to free-lance for a husband and wife design firm. They had a client that wanted all of his art work done on a Macintosh.

They did not have the education or computer to do this work. I was doing it for them.

Then that client wanted me to teach him the Macintosh. But, that wasn’t what he really wanted from me.

That night when I met with him, changed my life.

For the next 8 years I was a free-lance graphic design with my own business working with the company that this man worked for.

I found a way to live with my Dyslexia.

It has know been twenty years from the date I found my gift that God gave me to make it thought life with Dyslexia.

But, I am faced with not having the education to get a job. After 9/11 I lost all that I worked so hard for.

I lost all work from the company that gave me my start due to a new Marketing Director at the company.

All of my other clients I had did not have any work. Agency or Companies would only hire you if you have a Bachelor Degree.

I was helpless. I have over fifteen years of experience. I was faced with go back to school, all I need are my generals.

I was wrong... I need to take that whole program over to get my degree and pay $30,000+ for a piece of paper, for something that I already know how to do.

I did find a company that hired me on a contract base, the man that wanted to learn the Macintosh, 8 years ago.

I moved to Irvine, California and found a full time job working for an internet company.

I then left there to start a new life back where I first found out about Dyslexia.

I am under contract as a free-lance graphic design with the man that believed in me ten years ago.

I am starting to get my name and the work I can do know here in Spokane.

I am buying a house for a third time and learning to live with Dyslexia at 42.

God's Gift

I was so glad to see that kids with Dyslexia are getting help today.

Parent’s: Support your kids dreams, find what they excel in and do all that you can to encourage them. God has given them a gift, you just need to find it.

Mine was Graphic Design and a computer called MAC.

By Michele Beauchamp.
March 2005.