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| Margaret Rooke pictured with Benjamin Zephaniah |
I contacted the author of this amazing book, Margaret Rooke to see if she would be kind enough to tell us more.....
Margaret writes...
Six months ago my book ‘Creative, Successful, Dyslexic. 23
High Achievers Share Their Stories’ was published. Since then I have given a
string of talks to local dyslexia groups, universities and schools. I have met
many fascinating and lovely people, some with dyslexia and others who live and work
with them. I have learnt so much from them all.
These very many conversations have helped me hone my message.
This means for my next batch of talks (turn away now if I am coming to your
neck of the woods) my focus will be clear. Success and dyslexia – it’s all
about support.
I knew this in many ways at the start. One of the things
that most of the successful people in my book have in common is that when they
were growing up they had an adult on their side who helped them keep their
self-belief intact.
Sometimes this was a teacher – for Prime Suspect writer
Lynda La Plante for instance. Usually this was a parent – for comedian and
broadcaster Marcus Brigstocke or ballerina and Strictly judge Darcey Bussell.
This backing helped them realise that, although they
struggled in many ways at school, they had talent and strengths and life after
school would be their time to shine.
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That’s not to say that everyone with dyslexia can become a
millionaire like Sir Richard Branson. However everyone can be the very best
they can be at whatever they do. In the words of three times world champion racing
driver Sir Jackie Stewart, who puts his success down to his tremendous
attention to detail, ‘If I had been a window cleaner I would have been the best
window cleaner.’
Don’t just rely on me for a burst of positivity. Check out
others who have researched in this field: Chathurika Kannangara from the
University of Bolton who looks at ‘Signature strengths’ of those with dyslexia
(desirabledyslexia.com); and author and SENCO Neil Alexander-Passe (dyslexia-research.com)
and his very specific tip for parents and teachers to support and help the
children in their care to do their best, “Acknowledge your child’s effort and
not what they achieve,” he says. Simple as that.
*Creative Successful Dyslexic. 23 High Achievers Share Their
Stories. By Margaret Rooke. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. With special credit to Caroline Eluyemi - Available from Amazon