Dyslexia as an Advantage

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The Dyslexic Advantage in Literacy

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I was lucky enough to reason also that should try to improve my penmanship. It was
sad. I couldnt even write in a straight line. (Malcolm X, 1965, p.119) Mr. Malcolm Xs
statement in its totality portrays the same challenge I had learning how to read and write. At the
age of 4 I wasnt only trying to adapt to the new school system I was enrolled in, but also had to
deal with the pressure of not being able to learn as fast as my peers. I started pre-school in
Dyslexia courses, which were obligatory I attend throughout most of my Elementary years. It
was a challenge I was able to overcome with the help of a teacher aid. My disadvantage in
reading prevented me from learning quickly, but allowed me to develop the love I have for
Literacy now. I learned I could become literate in multiple ways, even with all odds against me.
Starting in Pre-K my teachers noticed that I was different in
various aspects from the other students of my age. For example, in the way I waddled around the
hallways to more eminent educational factors. Such as, how fast I was able to learn the material
that was taught to the same age group. They decided to have a meeting with my parents to further
discuss my behaviors at home. My parents too found differences. These differences were
depicted in comparison to my younger sibling who was able to recite the whole alphabet and
write all her numbers correctly vs. me who had trouble writing the number 5 and reciting the
alphabet correctly. They concluded that I would start kindergarten in the Dyslexia program that
the school district offered. Although it frustrated me my younger sister was able to draw the little
boot shaped number with an L on top, 5, I had no idea what greater struggles laid ahead.
Fortunately, my Dyslexia instructor was Mrs. Rodriguez was well known for being an
amazing motivational speaker and thoughtful teacher with great mentor experience. She would
pull me out of my normal class, one in which my classmates were of my age, and take me to a
portable outside the building to write my ABCs in a book. Each letter I wrote multiple times top

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to bottom. I was supposed to try my best to read the information out loud, at a normal pace.
Quickly, Elisa, you need to be faster Mrs. Rodriguez would say. I would gradually acquire
speed, but it took a lot of concentration on my behalf. Mrs. Rodriguez would observe all my
behaviors and write them down in a notebook. At that time I wasnt aware she was jotting down
all that information, because she was measuring the amount of intervention that needed to take
place according to the severity of my Dyslexia. To my understanding I was the weird kid who
had to leave the normal class to talk and work vigorously on literacy practices aside from other
assignments.
Additionally, I was very self-conscious about having to go to the portable. I had come to
feel different amongst the rest of my friends. I needed assistance from an outside teacher, and I
thought this automatically made me dumb. Dumb is not the best way to be categorized, but it
was the way other kids thought of me. I was distracted by how different school was for me than
how it was for my younger sibling. I was different I thought to myself daily, I am dumb I
would say. Unlike Aleixie, I had a low self- esteem.
A year later another meeting was scheduled with my parents and administrative council.
Despite having spent 2 hours a day in a portable, I was not mentally prepared to advance to the
1st grade. My parents told me that I almost did not pass the 1st grade. The reason for which the
administration passed me was due to my height. I was too tall to stay in 1st grade.
Furthermore, the 1st grade was very challenging. However, it was the year of a definite
change. I felt behind in my reading in contrast to my classmates and at this time I wasnt too
worried, but Mrs. Rodriguez was. She was my number one believer she would tell me, yet
looked a bit stressed whenever I elongated every syllable to a word we already practiced. I
started spending a lot of time with her during school and after school. Mrs. Rodriguez made

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reading a very fun activity, by acting out everything I would read. I began to invest a lot of my
time practicing all the things she had taught me to do. At home I was writing my homework all
by myself. I picked up a series of books Judy Blume and was totally enthused by it. I was truly
putting in the effort Mrs. Rodriguez encouraged me to place in reading and writing. I was
gradually acquiring the vocabulary, reading and writing skills that I needed to attain. I became
more fluent in the literary practices that I would continuously work on. Mrs. Rodriguez
continued to support me. She cheered me on as much as she possibly could, she told me to
neglect all the negative thoughts, feelings and/or comments I would have or receive.
I know now 13 years later that what my parents told me was only partially true. I passed
to the first grade because of the faith Mrs. Rodriguez had in me. Mrs. Rodriguez was my literate
angel. She gave me confidence each and every day. Leaving the normal class was not the most
popular thing to do. But my wonderful dyslexia instructor believed in me, and soon I did too. I
began to read 2nd grade level books, shortly after 4th grade Goosebumps was on my hit list in 3rd
grade! I loved reading, I acquired the confidence I needed to read to everyone even in my
normal class.
That year of change my ambition in life was generated. Mrs. Rodriguez told me when
she first had me as a student I was a little sprout hiding behind the leaves on a tree, and that
finally in 2nd grade I was blooming into the most beautiful, intelligent flower she has ever met. I
blossomed that year into a student who was determined to attain only As. In the following
years 3rd grade to current college level classes I only strive for my best and with confidence.
Despite not seeing Mrs. Rodriguez since the second grade, following her analogy, I am thankful
she watered my tree every day. Her kind encouragement allowed me to continue to read and
write and have found love in doing so. Judy Blume to The Sophocles of the Three Tragedies has

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been the most interesting journey (Also, I personally enjoy Non-fiction on the daily basis; an
author I admire is Mary Roach.)
Furthermore, Literacy has become a great activity to practice. Mr. Villanueva author of
the Excerpt from Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color states, For all the wonders I had
found in literature-and still find-literature seemed to me self-enveloping. (Villanueva, 1993, p.
116) I find this quote to be very true. When I read, write, or study something extensively I block
everything else out. I block out my normal thoughts: I block out the thoughts of having a
disadvantage, I block out the lack of self-confidence and I block out any negative comments. I
believe that dyslexia was not a drawback in my literate flight; it has served as a motivational
process that allowed me to accomplish the multiple skills I have now. Battling with a mental
disadvantage can only be seen negative if one chooses to perceive it in this way. I choose to be
seen as the flower that has blossomed, the flower that has and will continue to embrace the
multiple colors of the literate world.

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References

Villanueva, V. (year of publication). Excerpt from Bootstraps: From an Academic of

X, M. (1965). Learning to Read. In E. Wardle & D. Downs (Eds.), Writing about Writing 2nd
Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. (119-127).