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Im 15 and i hated school i used to tell my mum i was ill and not go because people use to take the mick and call me thick but when the teachers tole me to go and have tests done i then found out i was dyslexic i felt silly at first but now im in year 10 and i get loads of help for my GCSE's and from my mates Good Luck

When i was at school i struggled in tests, was a terrible speller (things seemed to go in one ear & out the other!!!) One teacher suggester i got tested for dyslexia, but this was overlooked by the school. Anyway, i managed to do well in my GCSE's (9 a-c) and went on to do a GNVQ. After that i went to do a degree, it was at this point (aged 20) i was finally diagnosed (and i was given a free computer!) I would like to point out my problem has not put me off school as next year i start my PGCE to train to be a teacher.

hi my name is graeme i am 11 years old.My big success are PE and RE,but am not so good at speling. Ps iam relly good at football

Hello Barnaby, I really like your website and I think your stories are very interesting. Here is my story. It is a little bit longer than I expected it to be. I hope that's ok. It was when I first started to go to school that people noticed there was something wrong with me, two of my older brothers are dyslexic, so my mother knew what she was dealing with. I used to be carried into school kicking and screaming and then they would shut the gate so I couldn't get back out. That was infants' school, it is a shame but I can't remember much from those years, all I remember is that I hated it, I just can't quite put my finger on what it was that I hated. I do remember one specific incident that will stay with me forever: One day in Junior school a teacher discovered that I did not know the months of the year (I think I was 9) she said I had to learn it for the next day. I went home and spent all day and all night with my mum trying to learn them. As a last resort my mother taught me the days of the week instead. When I stood up in class the next day and said "Sorry I couldn't learn the months, so I learnt the days of the week instead, Monday… Tuesd! ay…" by the time I said Wednesday the teacher started laughing then the rest of the class joined in. So I sat down. Somehow I got through to senior school even though I wasn't really learning anything and I took my GCSE's. I got one B in art, a D and the rest were E's or below. I stayed on for the sixth form and took a GNVQ in business (I wasn't qualified but I managed to talk my way into it). At the same time I retook my English GCSE and got a D, so I took it again the next year and got a D again! I did quite well on the GNVQ, which surprised most. The good GNVQ grade and a home made art portfolio got me into the University of Portsmouth to do an Art foundation. I didn't like it and I never went in to college, but university was a new fun life, I had moved out of my parents house for the first time and met lots of really lovely people who were nothing like the friends that I had had at school (this is where I met my boyfriend of 4 years). I retook English and Media studies GCSE's AGAIN! This time I even dared retake Maths! I got a C in English at last and even better 2 B's in Maths ! and Media. In 1999 I moved back up to London to do a degree in Computing, something I had never tired before and I thought I would give it a go. Within weeks I was top of the class and now I am in the Third year, it looks like I will graduate in July with a First class. This semester I won a scholarship from the university for academic achievement. I am hoping to become a games programmer, which is a very hard but fun job. My mum is very proud because she still remembers, all too painfully, those years she spent struggling to help me with my homework. The key to my success was being able to do something that I really enjoyed and the fact that I constantly reminded myself what I had to do over and over again, by making lists and things. All the practicing improved my memory by unbelievable amounts. I have to be obsessive about my organisation, but it seems to do the trick. Also, University changed my life because it made me realise that education didn't have to be so re! strictive, like it was at school. I would encourage anyone to go to University to specialise in the subject that they most enjoy and now I always tell people that the most important thing it to have fun.

Well all I can say is I'm doing much better then I was a few years ago. I'm at college now and I can tell everyone that it's much easier to be dyslexic at college. Most professors are willing to work with you on everything. So if you are struggling just remember that things will get better. I never believed this stuff but it's really true. There is a whole community of people out there who are sturggling, YOU will make it. One day it's going to click, your going to look back and see that things are working out.

hi my name is Helen i am 19 years old and i am just writing from university, yes university, it sounds good doesn't it. Well it sounds good when looking back to when i was 8 years old i couldn't read and write let alone get myself organised enough to be able to go to university!!! I never thought that i could do it. No not me how was i ever going to be able to get words from my head to paper? But i did it, even if i may struggle a bit more than fellow students it makes my results the more rewarding. Keep at it, things may feel hard at the moment but eventually you may become able to understand the ways in which your mind works and be able to reach for those stars. Believe in yourself xxx

My name is Jackelyne and I am a 16 years in grade 11 most importnalty I am DYLSEXIC and I have ADD. I truly am a "sucess story" I wasn't diganosed as being dylsexic until I was in grade two. I hade many problems in elementry school my teachers thought I was stuped and didn't help me as much as they sould have. I didn't know how to read until I was in grade 5. My teachers wouldn't help me learn how to read so one night I taught myself. It took me a long time and with the help of my parents in grade 5 I was abel to read. I have the type of problems as a normal dysexic person one is cordanation. I can't bounce a basketball, ride a bike, walk in a staright line, spell, or handwrite. I found it to be a stuggle going threw school. Kids would make fun of me beacause I couldn't catch a ball, teachers would tell my parents "Jackie isn't that smart you sould be proud of her if she pases her classes when she gets older." I felt like an outsider while I was growing up. One night in junior high I decied I was going to prove to all my teachers that I wasn't "that dumb but nice student" I worked hard and got myself a special tutor who helps people who are dylsexic just like me... It took me two years but I can no prodaly say "Im an honor role student" getting high makrs that my parents and teachers never thought where possable it a big achivement. For someone as dylsexic as they come its hard to belive that now 16 years old I am on the honor role and planing to be a teacher. You can do whatever you put ur mind too. NEVER EVER THINK THAT BEING DYLSEXIC MEANS YOU ARE STUPED. Work hard and someday you can be on the honor role or achive the goals you thought where never possable. BEING DYSELXIC DOESN'T CLOSE DOORS IT OPENS THEM! thanks Jackie:)

My name is Kari Lovelace. When I was in first grade I was tested for Dyslexia and my parent had to fight to get me into specical ed because my math skill were so high. I am in 12 grade and I came about a C average my hole high school time. I have to do a project to graduat this year and I decide to do my on dyslexia because i know first had what it is like to have it.

I was first questioned about being dyslexic when only 3 to 4 years old whilst at preschool. Again later at about 7 years old. However, I was brought up in Derbyshire where the official council line was that dyslexia did not exsist. So I was left with no help. Many times I was picked on by teachers for the standard of my work. I cannot spell I write very slowly and my handwriting is so bad that often I cannot read it. When 17 a teacher called me up to the front of the class and said that I had the spelling puntuation and grammer of a ten year old and unless I turned things around sharpish he would kick me out of his a'level economics class. On hearing this my mother went raving mad and made me go to have an official dyslexia test in yorkshire where the council was not so blind to the dyslexic problem. We returned to school with the report and exam board permission for extra time in exams and a letter forcing the school to comply. Anyway I finished my a'levels and unusually was offered a university place based on sporting achievement because my predicted grades were too low. I came to Cardiff University and with the help provided by the dyslexia center soon began to cope with my problem. I went on to come top in my graduating year on my degree gaining an award from the Charted Institute of Management Accountants (Which included some money-cool) And was offered a place for a 3 year PhD in Marketing which I now do and am being funded by A prestigious funding body. I hope at the end of the three years (now only one year away) to work at the European Union institutions as a policy researcher. Its taken a little hard work a lot of very kind support and possibly a little luck but dyslexia has made me a stronger more determined person, because of how hard I had to fight through school and has taught me never to quit.

Hi i'm Stephanie, i am 10 years old and have only recently been diagnosed as dyslexic. I was having a really hard time at school and my mum tried to have me tested for dyslexia, but the school weren't too keen. My mum took me to an opticians who deal with coloured overlays, i was tested and given a "Magneta" coloured overlay. It really helped me so my mum got me glasses with the tint put in them, so i don't use the overlay any more. I eventually seen the school psycologist who diagnosed me as dislexic. Now, with my glasses and knowing what the problem is I am finding school is not as bad.