From Gobble de gook to readable in five minutes

By: Philip Walker - [writing]
U;Like most people I was born with yher the hand-mental foalt og dyslexia. I speny mant year snot boytenri nt o writw at al. I tjoug all that wa sbeyond me. It wasnot untili awa inrofsoce to a compute yanay I doscobed my salvari.

Now, for the benefit of the few of you who have managed to follow me so far, I'll try to explain. The first paragraph, translated into English reads:

Unlike most people I was born with the `hand-eye-mental fault' of Dyslexia. I spent many years not bothering to write at all not even letters. I thought it was all beyond me. It was not until I was introduced to a computer- and I discovered my salvation'.

Don't get me wrong! A computer can't cure your propensity to dyslexia. It can only give you a ready made solution to get around it. Like others with dyslexia, I also find it impossible to do something different with my left hand at the same time as using my right hand - like playing the piano for instance. This also makes it doubly difficult to learn touch-typing.

The annoying, most angryfying (one of my words) consequence was in litererary terms though my mind was full of invention, I found it too difficult to get my words right and all too often gave up.

That introduction to the computer was about seven years ago when I was 62 years of age. I am now a recognised author, build my own websites, run a fortnightly online newsletter called `Senior Surfers Online'. I write an average of two articles a week at about 500 words each and I even edit.

To put the record straight. I have not cured my dyslexia - I have found a way to live with it. If you were to read my first take on an article, it would read much like the hieroglyphics (now there's a big word) in the first paragraph of this article. My wife often falls about laughing at my first drafts. We both laugh actually! It's all in the editing. I make no attempt on my first draft to get my words right. I can only use two fingers to type and I have gathered quite speed by memorising roughly where the keys are. Nonetheless, it looks like `gobble-de-gook' but five minutes later, in editing; I can turn it into plain old English.

If you or any member of your family has a problem with dyslexia, try my method. It worked for me, it just might work for you..

Hatbtyou (translated - Thank you)

Philip Walker

Writer, Editor and broadcaster on `Age in Employment' issues. Read my website at www.caade.net or take in our online newsletter at www.caaade.net/newsletter/sson92.html - even better why not subscribe - it's a free newsletter for all `Young Seniors' with plenty of politics, campaigning, computer-help, inspirational articles, funnies and somewhere for you to give your point of view. Email me on caade@n...

You can publish this article freely as long s you include this by- line. Please send me a copy whenever you use it. caade@n...

(520 words)

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