Dyslexia: My father's story.

I wanted to write about challenges that we face in our daily lives. Some people face daily challenges in life that others can't see and don't know exist. For example let's talk about my father. See, he was dyslexic and, as a result, never learned how to read. 

My father grew up in a time where dyslexia was not well known. Often struggling in school he was made fun of and called stupid by his peers. The teachers said he was a slow learner. Eventually, the frustration and humiliation was too much for him. He ended up dropping out of school in the 8th grade. 

My father became an adult and eventually discovered that he wasn't a "slow learner." He was diagnosed with dyslexia. See, dyslexia does not mean low intelligence. Some of the most brilliant minds are believed to have had dyslexia such as Winston Churchill, Alexander Graham Bell, John Lennon, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein. Although my father learned later in life that he was dyslexic, it was too late for him. He never learned how to read. Dyslexia is called a "unique and gifted mindset" in which the dyslexic learns different than others. 

My father lived around his dyslexia. Only close family knew his secret. I didn't even learn about it until around age 10. Even back then I couldn't fully comprehend the challenges he faced. My mother would read his bills to him. He would ask me for assistance as well. Over the years he would ask me how to spell words like "water." I remember as a child I would give him a birthday card. He would open it up and pretend to read it then smile and say "that's nice honey." After I learned this, I watched him repeat this routine with others who weren't aware that he couldn't read. I remember one time we were at a friend's house. Someone handed him a Christmas card. He proceeded to open the card and someone yelled "read it out loud!" I sprang up from the couch I was sitting on and said "I'll read it" and grabbed the card from him. I read it out loud for all of them to hear and they were none the wiser. 

My father's dyslexia actually gave him an uncanny ability to solve puzzles. It's proven that people who are dyslexic have this ability. Rubik's Cube was no match for my father. I remember how as a child I would get mad that he could solve puzzles so fast. I had received an electronic puzzle game for Christmas only to find out the next day that he had already beaten the game. Dyslexic people are known to be masters of their crafts. This too was true in that my father was known as an excellent mechanic. Definitely above average in his work. 

My father faced daily challenges. Have you ever thought about the pictures at fast food drive thrus? A picture of a hamburger and fries with a number at the top..."I'll have a number 1 please." That is a language that even people like my father could understand. He couldn't read, but could look at the pictures and communicate what he wanted. 

I had genetic testing done some time ago. I carry the genetic mutation for dyslexia. Dyslexia runs in families. In my case however, the gene did not "kick in" and I am not dyslexic, but have dyscalculia instead. 

When my father became terminally ill I went to see him. I overheard someone complaining about his cell phone and walked over to them. "I can't contact anyone! Your father doesn't put peoples names in his phone...only their numbers...he MEMORIZES the numbers." I laughed silently to myself at her frustration. "That's my father" I replied.