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Ok, my story is that i was labelled dyslexic at the age of 9. I have had help since then but I find it really hard to spell and copy out numbers and loads of other stuff! I started a new school where it had a special section for people like me. After a year there i was ready to join the mainstream again. Now i am 14, i am doing a GCSE a year early. I still have extra help 5 times a week while the rest of my year is doing german. In my GCSE i will be allowed 25% extra time and i will be able to read the exam paper out loud to save time trying to read it in my head! i know its not much but i feel kinda proud i have got that far! (May 2004)

I am Dyslexic, I was officially labeled when I was 14. I am now 31. My sucess story is 9 GCSEs A-C thanks to extra time and some good teachers, esp the geography teacher who let me sit at the front and stop him rubbing things out before I'd copied them. 2 A levels - Thanks to Home and Hospitals tutition when I got run over and missed a term of school. Oh and good old extra time. When I left school I got my self registered as disabled, it was an experiment backed by the local dyslexia asoc. that little green card turned out to be quite usefull over the years, gauenteeing me interviews for jobs, even when the form was filled in with my rather messy handwriting. Training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School as a technician and stage manager, The staff were very understanding. There are lots of dyslexics in theatre.I got my 1st WP and Big thanks to a boyfirend or two who could touch type and put up with me dictateing stuff. After a long time working I did some more training in Electricial installation. A very hands on subject with not much writing, Big thanks to my Husband Paul for the extra maths tution tho. Just this last 2 years I have been learning a language ( at last, I gave them all up at school as soon as poss aged 13).German has not been easy all the time, but I have a reason for learning now and am determined to get what I want out of the course. Good old extra time came back again this year as I had to sit a german exam and that little green card stating that I was "registered Disabled" got me the extra time. I'm waiting for the results! So to sum up. I've been a known , open and proud dyslecic for the last 16 years, and I ain't done too bad. If your reading this and still at school still at the stage were it seems really grim and all important. try and remember school comes to an end, and in the real world you can avoid handwriting most of the time. (April 2004)

I have a story of success, and of frustration, which I am sure, many will be able to relate to ...Sadly! I have been running my own Handmade Stationery business for one year now, and am getting many kind comments and recognition. I love what I do, and wished I could have been doing this from when I left school...I am 34years young , so it's been a while. When I moved to the North of this fine Isle, I was encouraged to explore my urge to be creative, by my wondeful family, and went to college, I was absolutley terrified when I first went, too many scary memories of being called lazy and stupid! I had a fantastic tutor who helped me to have more faith in what I produced, I studied, Interior Design and Specialist Paint Techniques. I passed with distictions for all my design pakages, and made some wonderful friends too! One a level 3 NVQ in child care and education...very intense but, passed! I am a true beliver of everything happening fro a reason, and when the times right! But right now I am in a sad dilema, my sons are both dyslexic, takes one to know and understand one! Neither has a statement, and my eldest is in year ten, aka 4th year! I feel like i bang my head sometimes, and maybe talk double dutch to some when i try to explain where my son and I are coming from. I fear we may not get the help in school, but feel if he gets to college, more will be done, so not all hope is lost. This site has reaaly helped me see the wood for the trees and although i sometimes feel a little lost, with how I may help my sons, now I have found all these wonderful examples of success, I can share them with my boys, and give them hope too. Thank You for this site, and enjoy being happy and successful in whatever your future brings your way! Thank you for sharing your time with me! Sue (March 2004)

Well basical i known i been dyslexic since quite a young age. I find it really hard to do coursework. When i do exams I lose marks for messy writing. The sucess is recently i took a science test and i got a C in my exam which is in Foundation. from Ben (March 2004)

At Primary school i was considered an underacheiver, but when i was 11 and moved up to secondary schooll it was discovered that i was dyslexic. I had 2 hours extra lessons in school time and 1 hour after school for two years, Then in summer 2003 i took my GCSE i passed 11. i got 4A. 3B. 4C the 6th top marks in my school. Being dyslexic doesn't mean you're thick it just means you need extra help. (it took me a long time to realise this.) Im now studying A levels with the aim of becomeing a doctor. Good Luck to any one else in the same boat as me a few years ago. You can do it. (March 2004)

Hello, my name is Oscar and I'm dyslexic. I'm nine years old, I was 7 when my Mummy first had me tested. At school I've got a great teacher called Mrs Keogh. She helps me a lot in my Enlish and spelling. I go to lessons every Monday with a special teacher called Mrs Parker and she also helps me alot. Now I've got my coloured specs it really helps me to read and makes the letters behave themselves! (My mummy is typing this for me) When they didn't know I was dyslexic they thought I was thick but now my days at school are really good, thanks to my teacher and my Mum and my special dyslexia teacher. I really liked finding this web-site because now I know I'm not the only one.(My Mum says good on you, Barnaby and thank you!) Oscar (March 2004)

This story is about my twin daughters who were diagnosed as being dyslexic about three years ago. I have not been able to afford the special programs but i have been working with them after school and they are beginning to read. They are 8 years old. I do not have the training but I try my best I am proud of them. They read out of my book of bible stories, sometimes they make a mistake but I encourage them to try. (July 2004)

I have just finished the book called The Twits. I rekomend it because it is funny. My favourite chapter is the glass eye because its herlreyous . (March 2004)

Hi i was dignosed with dyslexia when i was very young. My school is fab and i use a laptop, teachers photocopy other people's notes for me to learn from. I attend lessons with a special tutor twice a week out of school and in school I spend most of my free periods with the school SENCO ( special edicational needs codinater). My teacher Mrs Manfield said that I should go to the optitions and be tested for IRLEN SYNDROME wHere you see words all blurry. They then suggested that I should try out these special glasses / lenses with special colour tints. They really work. My attention span has beceme considerably better. Dyslexia cant stop you doing what to want keep on trying your hardest and you will sucseed. (March 2004)

i was diagnosed with dyslexia when i was 6 and as dyspracic when i was 5. I changed school because i was finding the work at school to hard. I then went to a school which had a SENCO special educational needs co-ordinator they helped me massively. I now use a laptop for all of my lessons and i have special permission to use my laptop in my GCSE'S and A-Levals. I sometimes get some stick from people at school but i have learnt to ignore it. I now have my books on tape and photocopy people's notes and my life couldn't get any better. 6 Months ago my family moved to the south of france i was dreading it but with help from a special French teacher i have become nearly fluent. No One Let Any Thing Stop You Doing What You Want Be Determined. (March 2004)

I actually have Irlen's syndrome which is a lot like Dyslexia. I was diagnosed with it two year ago, and now I am 16. I wear coloured glasses and it really makes a difference. (March 2004)

Hi Barney I found your site by chance. I found out only three years ago that I was dyslexic. I am a PA to Store Manager for Sainsburys. My spelling is okay it is my understanding of the written work and I cannot passed exams are a nightmare. I plan to sit my GCSE's next starting in September. With the help of my youngest daugther. Also now understand why it took me so long to pass my driving test (6). many of the stories ring true on your site that apply to me. Yes I agree with many that we are not stupid or dumb just different. Please never give up, my family support me all the way. (February 2004)

My son Sebastian has just had his 10th Birthday. He was said to have dyslexia during year 1, however only in July last year did I became so concerned about his literacy skills that I arranged for him to have an Educational Psychology assessment. Although it was quite expensive I am so glad that I did this - It was worth every penny. He was found to have significant difficulties and I was advised to approach the LEA to request an assessment with a view to him being given a statement of special educational needs. I also found a wonderful special teacher who has put in place multi-sensory teaching outside school for 2 hours per week. Sebastian has been wonderful going for this tuition, he never complains and has shown me how, using correct teaching methods and environment, he is able to learn slowly, steadily and surely. Fortunately the LEA have agreed that Sebastian does need a Statement of Special Educational Needs, although I have as yet only received a proposed Statement - which will need some work done to it in order that it is clear with regards to provision. I have concerns that mainstream school is not the right place for Sebastian and I am seeking approval from the LEA for him to attend a specialist school for dyslexics. It has been a painful few months; I have had to be determined, assertive and articulate - I will continue to do all I can for my son, who deserves a chance to have a happy and successful life. (February 2004)

I am dyslexic i found out last year. i dont know my tables or the months of the year not many people know only my mum dad and big sister not my little siter because she too young. i used to think i was dum but i know i am not. i was 9 then but now i am 10. (January 2004)

mmm,where to start for as long as i can remember being at school for me was one living hell after another, i struggled with my reading, spelling and handwriting, this led to playing up in class,and teacher generally thinking that i was a nuisance child and not bothering to find out why i acted the way i did, once i was even put into a detention in junior school, because i did not understand what i had to do, 1 year later the teachers at my school found out that i was dyslexic, and tried to ship me off to a school for children with disablities, They lost their fight, my mum won. i am now a happy settled 16 year girl, studdying a-levels, english and history, and looking forward to the future, but i still hate tests, they are evil. people who are dyslexic are not stupid or disabled they just need a little extra help now and then. don't let them down. (February 2004)

Hi my name is Jessica i've had dislexia for 17 years now but i have made it through elimentry, middle school and partly through high school. But what i think about is how good i have became over the years with the help of my resource teacher. I now have a 3.5 gpa in school so i accomplished my goal for myself and i could not have done that with out my famliy and my teacher Mrs.Morghim. (January 2004)

Every time i do a maths test i always get it wrong but when i think about it properly i get it right! And this website really helps me. But i think i'd be better off with a calculater at school because i used to always get 1 out of 20! (January 2004)

hello just wanted to write a little about myself. i am dyslexic but i never really had problems spelling. the thing i had problems with was my memory as i couldn't really remember a lot of things at once. for some reason i could remember things from ages back - years and years back. i had a hard time at school because i was dyslexic. i went to learning support and yes it helped me spell and things but a lot of these things i could do already. things i needed help with was my writing and learning more things. anything i seemed to learn went in one ear and out the other. i wasn't very good at maths infact really bad. i was best at practical things. I wish i had learned more at school (mainstream school) - it felt as though it was all a waste of time. i wish there was a cure for what i have. i'm now 18 and out of school but it still affects me. i have a job which i am enjoying but poor grades and you get a poor job at the end of the day! sorry it aint much of a success but i aint gonna lie. i went through a bad time and i hope the rest don't. cool site btw (January 2004)

Hiya Barnaby im not really sure what to write here and i don't know whether its a sucess story. i have not been tested for dyslexic yet though its getting sorted out with my school. One of my teachers thought i might be dyslexia and so did one of my mums friends. So i'll be getting tested soon. My spelling is fine but i find it hard putting my thoughts into words and when i read i can never remember what i've read which is tough in school at the minute as i'm taking my GCSES - i'm in year 10. i too find it easier to read with coloured lenses in my glases. I also am finding all my subjects hard so i'm hoping if i find out i'm dyslexic then there will be a reason why i can't do my work. To all the people who think they might be dyslexia talk to your mum and get her to go into the school, look at a dyslexia web site and get tested. GOOD LUCK AND I LOVE ALL DYSLEXIC PEOPLE FOR THERE COURAGE!!!!!!!!????????????!!!!!!!! By the way your websites great..... Love ya all tons x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (January 2004)

Hi, Im dyslexic. I have an honours degree in biochemistry, a masters degree in nutrition, MCSE (computer qualification)and now PGCE (teaching qualification). There are still teachers out there that think dyslexia means thick. Anyone reading this who gets a hard time from their teachers for poor spelling etc don't let them get to you. You don't have to be able to spell, tell the time, learn your times tables or tell your left from your right to be successful in life! Hopefully Im helping to educate the next generation of potential teachers who will be much more sympathetic to our frustrations. (January 2004)