Creating a place for adult dyslexics to connect

When writing I still leave out small words, misspell or create odd sentence structures.

Speaking, I often will be hunting for a particular word and cannot retrieve it for use.

When reading, extraneous noise — especially others talking — will interfere with my comprehension and focus on the reading. When tired I will resort to skipping lines, or not be able to follow the thought of sentence. There are many situations socially where knowing how to approach it is difficult.

These, along with many other things, impact the lives of adult dyslexics.

Dyslexia has its origins in the brain and tends to run in families, which suggests a heredity component.

Despite their weaknesses, dyslexics have many strengths, which allow them to be successful in so many ways.

Their strengths may lie in reasoning spatially and three-dimensionally, seeing the big picture in complex issues, reasoning through experiences and telling stories, among other strengths.

Dyslexia is for a lifetime. Many dyslexics, even after remediation, continue to have dyslexic influences in their lives.

For those who had no remediation, the learning they have had to do to compensate and to be a productive individual is something we can all benefit from.

Many highly accomplished people with dyslexia have had great success in life, not in spite of the dyslexia but because of it.

As we grow older dyslexia manifests itself differently through our experiences and learning through our strengths over time. Many adult dyslexics still experience difficulties in various parts of their lives. It may influence their finding and interviewing for work, their relationships, how they manage finances, communications, the workplace or college.

Since dyslexia’s influence never fully leaves us, as adults it is important that there be a new means of support.

Twin Ports Adult Dyslexics is a newly forming group that will provide support, education and fellowship for individuals 18 years and older. The group will hold monthly informal meetings sharing, learning and enjoying each other’s company.

Hopefully, members will come share common — and not so common — wisdom from being dyslexic.

Twin Ports Adult Dyslexics is open to any adult who has been diagnosed with dyslexia and would like to have a means to share with others.

The first meeting of the Twin Ports Adult Dyslexics begins at 7 p.m. April 2 at Enduring Achievement in the Northwoods Music Building, 1608 Tower Ave., Superior.

Come to find out more and help this group organize into something that will benefit and support the needs of its members. Bring a friend who is dyslexic and may want to join us for some conversation.

Interested individuals should RSVP by sending an email to strewlertp@gmail.com or call 218-348-5089.

Thomas Strewler is a retired teacher who opened his own tutoring business, Enduring Achievement, in 2012.

Tags: opinion, commentary