so what do Erin Brokovich agatha christie and all
Erin Brokovich agatha christie and all
Erin Brokovich agatha christie and all of these famous people have in common
of these famous people have in common
of these famous people have in common they are all very creative they’re all
they are all very creative they’re all
they are all very creative they’re all very innovative very successful and now
very innovative very successful and now
very innovative very successful and now also all dyslexic I’m here today to talk
also all dyslexic I’m here today to talk
also all dyslexic I’m here today to talk to you about dyslexia and to give you a
to you about dyslexia and to give you a
to you about dyslexia and to give you a different perception but in fact
different perception but in fact
different perception but in fact dyslexia is not a learning disability
dyslexia is not a learning disability
dyslexia is not a learning disability but is in fact a gift as so clearly
but is in fact a gift as so clearly
but is in fact a gift as so clearly demonstrated by these famous people now
demonstrated by these famous people now
demonstrated by these famous people now you may have noticed in the introduction
you may have noticed in the introduction
you may have noticed in the introduction that I am a book publisher and so book
that I am a book publisher and so book
that I am a book publisher and so book publishing and dyslexia is somewhat of
publishing and dyslexia is somewhat of
publishing and dyslexia is somewhat of an oxymoron so it took me an enormous
an oxymoron so it took me an enormous
an oxymoron so it took me an enormous amount of courage to actually stand on
amount of courage to actually stand on
amount of courage to actually stand on this stage and tell you that I am
this stage and tell you that I am
this stage and tell you that I am dyslexic and unfortunately this is a
dyslexic and unfortunately this is a
dyslexic and unfortunately this is a problem that many adult dyslexics have
problem that many adult dyslexics have
problem that many adult dyslexics have and my father is no exception when I
and my father is no exception when I
and my father is no exception when I found out I was dyslexic not that long
found out I was dyslexic not that long
found out I was dyslexic not that long ago I rang my mum and I said mom do we
ago I rang my mum and I said mom do we
ago I rang my mum and I said mom do we have dyslexia in the family and she said
have dyslexia in the family and she said
have dyslexia in the family and she said to me Julie when I married your dad he
to me Julie when I married your dad he
to me Julie when I married your dad he could not read or write and he promised
could not read or write and he promised
could not read or write and he promised to never ever ever tell his children
to never ever ever tell his children
to never ever ever tell his children that he had this challenge because he
that he had this challenge because he
that he had this challenge because he did not want us to also be treated the
did not want us to also be treated the
did not want us to also be treated the way that he was treated at school and
way that he was treated at school and
way that he was treated at school and don’t tell him now that I told you so I
don’t tell him now that I told you so I
don’t tell him now that I told you so I ran my dad
ran my dad
ran my dad and I said dad I’ve just been diagnosed
and I said dad I’ve just been diagnosed
and I said dad I’ve just been diagnosed with dyslexia and he told me the whole
with dyslexia and he told me the whole
with dyslexia and he told me the whole story
he told me that he was meant to stand in
he told me that he was meant to stand in the corner of the room he spent his
the corner of the room he spent his
the corner of the room he spent his whole childhood it felt like to him in
whole childhood it felt like to him in
whole childhood it felt like to him in the corner of the room with a dunce hat
the corner of the room with a dunce hat
the corner of the room with a dunce hat on his teachers called him stupid he was
on his teachers called him stupid he was
on his teachers called him stupid he was actually pained across the hand on a
actually pained across the hand on a
actually pained across the hand on a weekly basis
weekly basis
weekly basis he felt stupid felt stupid and that’s
he felt stupid felt stupid and that’s
he felt stupid felt stupid and that’s why he didn’t want his children to know
why he didn’t want his children to know
why he didn’t want his children to know that he had this challenge he kind of
that he had this challenge he kind of
that he had this challenge he kind of figured the English way keep it a secret
figured the English way keep it a secret
figured the English way keep it a secret don’t tell them what’s going on and
don’t tell them what’s going on and
don’t tell them what’s going on and everything will be fine
unfortunately I did have a really tough
unfortunately I did have a really tough time at school but of course I didn’t
time at school but of course I didn’t
time at school but of course I didn’t know why I was having a tough time at
know why I was having a tough time at
know why I was having a tough time at school and so he just kept telling me to
school and so he just kept telling me to
school and so he just kept telling me to work harder just work harder so I kept
work harder just work harder so I kept
work harder just work harder so I kept working harder and I worked harder now
working harder and I worked harder now
working harder and I worked harder now unfortunately the kids today when they
unfortunately the kids today when they
unfortunately the kids today when they get diagnosed with dyslexia they’re told
get diagnosed with dyslexia they’re told
get diagnosed with dyslexia they’re told they have a learning disability they’re
they have a learning disability they’re
they have a learning disability they’re made to feel stupid it’s no different
made to feel stupid it’s no different
made to feel stupid it’s no different it’s no different than 1940s and 50s
it’s no different than 1940s and 50s
it’s no different than 1940s and 50s even though the teachers didn’t know
even though the teachers didn’t know
even though the teachers didn’t know then what dyslexia was now the truth is
then what dyslexia was now the truth is
then what dyslexia was now the truth is that our brains just happen to function
that our brains just happen to function
that our brains just happen to function in a different way so instead of a lot
in a different way so instead of a lot
in a different way so instead of a lot of the activity happening on the left
of the activity happening on the left
of the activity happening on the left hand side of the brain which is the
hand side of the brain which is the
hand side of the brain which is the magical and the logical side of the
magical and the logical side of the
magical and the logical side of the brain we have a lot of activity on the
brain we have a lot of activity on the
brain we have a lot of activity on the right-hand side of the brain this is the
right-hand side of the brain this is the
right-hand side of the brain this is the creative side of the brain it is
creative side of the brain it is
creative side of the brain it is responsible for innovation we are very
responsible for innovation we are very
responsible for innovation we are very inspirational people a very inventive
inspirational people a very inventive
inspirational people a very inventive think about Steve Jobs in fact I love
think about Steve Jobs in fact I love
think about Steve Jobs in fact I love Steve Jobs his phone stops me from
Steve Jobs his phone stops me from
Steve Jobs his phone stops me from getting lost all the time
getting lost all the time
getting lost all the time think about Richard Branson his
think about Richard Branson his
think about Richard Branson his imagination is going to take tourists to
imagination is going to take tourists to
imagination is going to take tourists to the moon and of course I gotta Christie
the moon and of course I gotta Christie
the moon and of course I gotta Christie there are actually many dyslexic authors
there are actually many dyslexic authors
there are actually many dyslexic authors we are really good at problem solving
we are really good at problem solving
we are really good at problem solving we’re able to take complex subjects and
we’re able to take complex subjects and
we’re able to take complex subjects and simplify them in fact I’ve heard that up
simplify them in fact I’ve heard that up
simplify them in fact I’ve heard that up to as high as 95 percent of architects
to as high as 95 percent of architects
to as high as 95 percent of architects that’s one of the figures I heard are
that’s one of the figures I heard are
that’s one of the figures I heard are actually dyslexic engineers many
actually dyslexic engineers many
actually dyslexic engineers many engineer’s are dyslexic and of course
engineer’s are dyslexic and of course
engineer’s are dyslexic and of course Einstein Einstein was the best problem
Einstein Einstein was the best problem
Einstein Einstein was the best problem solver and yet he couldn’t actually read
solver and yet he couldn’t actually read
solver and yet he couldn’t actually read until he was 9 years old but look what
until he was 9 years old but look what
until he was 9 years old but look what he achieved now the thing about dyslexia
he achieved now the thing about dyslexia
he achieved now the thing about dyslexia is we get lost we get badly lost and in
is we get lost we get badly lost and in
is we get lost we get badly lost and in fact my friends some of which are in the
fact my friends some of which are in the
fact my friends some of which are in the audience here will tell you that it’s
audience here will tell you that it’s
audience here will tell you that it’s very annoying when I ring them all the
very annoying when I ring them all the
very annoying when I ring them all the time and say I know I’ve been to your
time and say I know I’ve been to your
time and say I know I’ve been to your house 15 times but I still need
house 15 times but I still need
house 15 times but I still need directions and still lost and how many
directions and still lost and how many
directions and still lost and how many times I’ve actually completely lost my
times I’ve actually completely lost my
times I’ve actually completely lost my car has anybody else been in that
car has anybody else been in that
car has anybody else been in that situation where you just cannot you have
situation where you just cannot you have
situation where you just cannot you have no idea which street your car is parked
no idea which street your car is parked
no idea which street your car is parked on and the most embarrassing thing is
on and the most embarrassing thing is
on and the most embarrassing thing is when I’m actually standing on the wrong
when I’m actually standing on the wrong
when I’m actually standing on the wrong side of the road
side of the road
side of the road waiting for my bus and then I see it
waiting for my bus and then I see it
waiting for my bus and then I see it depart damn standing on the rooms like
depart damn standing on the rooms like
depart damn standing on the rooms like the road again now believe it or not I
the road again now believe it or not I
the road again now believe it or not I actually traveled around the world yes I
actually traveled around the world yes I
actually traveled around the world yes I traveled around the world and every time
traveled around the world and every time
traveled around the world and every time I left my hostel I would think to myself
I left my hostel I would think to myself
I left my hostel I would think to myself okay so there’s the landmark
okay so there’s the landmark
okay so there’s the landmark there’s the hostel walk in one direction
there’s the hostel walk in one direction
there’s the hostel walk in one direction I would never dare go in two directions
I would never dare go in two directions
I would never dare go in two directions because if I went in two directions I
because if I went in two directions I
because if I went in two directions I just might not find my bed that night so
just might not find my bed that night so
just might not find my bed that night so it turns out that I actually
it turns out that I actually
it turns out that I actually circumnavigated the globe quite by
circumnavigated the globe quite by
circumnavigated the globe quite by accident when I join the New York
accident when I join the New York
accident when I join the New York Circumnavigators Club they told me that
Circumnavigators Club they told me that
Circumnavigators Club they told me that to be a circumnavigate er meant that you
to be a circumnavigate er meant that you
to be a circumnavigate er meant that you actually had to go around the world in
actually had to go around the world in
actually had to go around the world in one direction one direction cross every
one direction one direction cross every
one direction one direction cross every single latitude in one continuous trip
single latitude in one continuous trip
single latitude in one continuous trip so I did this quite by accident because
so I did this quite by accident because
so I did this quite by accident because I figured that if I kept going here I’d
I figured that if I kept going here I’d
I figured that if I kept going here I’d eventually get back to England which I
eventually get back to England which I
eventually get back to England which I did the thing is it actually took me
did the thing is it actually took me
did the thing is it actually took me seven years it took me seven years so I
seven years it took me seven years so I
seven years it took me seven years so I guess I must have got lost at some point
guess I must have got lost at some point
guess I must have got lost at some point so the thing about dyslexia is that when
so the thing about dyslexia is that when
so the thing about dyslexia is that when we come to these challenges we think to
we come to these challenges we think to
we come to these challenges we think to ourselves how am I going to address this
ourselves how am I going to address this
ourselves how am I going to address this it’s just the way our brains work and so
it’s just the way our brains work and so
it’s just the way our brains work and so when people kept asking me to write a
when people kept asking me to write a
when people kept asking me to write a book about my 7 year travel around the
book about my 7 year travel around the
book about my 7 year travel around the world I knew this was going to be a
world I knew this was going to be a
world I knew this was going to be a challenge but I thought to myself there
challenge but I thought to myself there
challenge but I thought to myself there must be an easier way to do this and so
must be an easier way to do this and so
must be an easier way to do this and so I put on my problem-solving hat and I
I put on my problem-solving hat and I
I put on my problem-solving hat and I attacked the challenge and I actually
attacked the challenge and I actually
attacked the challenge and I actually found a process and a system to fit 7
found a process and a system to fit 7
found a process and a system to fit 7 years of
years of
years of around the world into a 200 page book
around the world into a 200 page book
around the world into a 200 page book and as it turns out I actually could
and as it turns out I actually could
and as it turns out I actually could help other people who had the same
help other people who had the same
help other people who had the same challenge who had these big life stories
challenge who had these big life stories
challenge who had these big life stories that they wanted to figure out how to
that they wanted to figure out how to
that they wanted to figure out how to fit into a book and so this is how I
fit into a book and so this is how I
fit into a book and so this is how I ended up being a book publisher quite by
ended up being a book publisher quite by
ended up being a book publisher quite by accident because I was hoping so many
accident because I was hoping so many
accident because I was hoping so many people just through this problem-solving
people just through this problem-solving
people just through this problem-solving that I did so here’s an actual class and
that I did so here’s an actual class and
that I did so here’s an actual class and you can maybe work out the mind maps now
you can maybe work out the mind maps now
you can maybe work out the mind maps now when people do mind mapping it looks
when people do mind mapping it looks
when people do mind mapping it looks very chaotic and when I ask my students
very chaotic and when I ask my students
very chaotic and when I ask my students to mind map all their ideas for a book
to mind map all their ideas for a book
to mind map all their ideas for a book it looks chaotic and I had eight people
it looks chaotic and I had eight people
it looks chaotic and I had eight people looking at these my nuts trying to
looking at these my nuts trying to
looking at these my nuts trying to figure out how on earth is this going to
figure out how on earth is this going to
figure out how on earth is this going to turn into a book and magically it’s just
turn into a book and magically it’s just
turn into a book and magically it’s just something that I have been able to use
something that I have been able to use
something that I have been able to use my dyslexic mind to do now I was in one
my dyslexic mind to do now I was in one
my dyslexic mind to do now I was in one of these classes and soon suho from
of these classes and soon suho from
of these classes and soon suho from dyslexia Canada was actually in one of
dyslexia Canada was actually in one of
dyslexia Canada was actually in one of these classes and she was writing a book
these classes and she was writing a book
these classes and she was writing a book about dyslexia and she was watching me
about dyslexia and she was watching me
about dyslexia and she was watching me interpret these mind maps for my
interpret these mind maps for my
interpret these mind maps for my students and she said to me Julie you
students and she said to me Julie you
students and she said to me Julie you have a dyslexic mind
have a dyslexic mind
have a dyslexic mind I said sue that’s really bad for
I said sue that’s really bad for
I said sue that’s really bad for business
business
business but the thing is she was actually onto
but the thing is she was actually onto
but the thing is she was actually onto something it was her that made me
something it was her that made me
something it was her that made me understand that I actually had a gift um
understand that I actually had a gift um
understand that I actually had a gift um that reason I’m actually able to stand
that reason I’m actually able to stand
that reason I’m actually able to stand on this stage today and proudly say that
on this stage today and proudly say that
on this stage today and proudly say that I’m a dyslexic publisher but she
I’m a dyslexic publisher but she
I’m a dyslexic publisher but she explained to me that we think in a
explained to me that we think in a
explained to me that we think in a different way and the problem that my
different way and the problem that my
different way and the problem that my dad had when he was at school was that
dad had when he was at school was that
dad had when he was at school was that the teachers were trying to teach him
the teachers were trying to teach him
the teachers were trying to teach him the way that his
the way that his
the way that his rain doesn’t work so the dyslexic brain
rain doesn’t work so the dyslexic brain
rain doesn’t work so the dyslexic brain works with pictures and visuals and 3d
works with pictures and visuals and 3d
works with pictures and visuals and 3d images that’s how we learn that’s how we
images that’s how we learn that’s how we
images that’s how we learn that’s how we process information but the normal brain
process information but the normal brain
process information but the normal brain the non-dyslexic brain is just fine with
the non-dyslexic brain is just fine with
the non-dyslexic brain is just fine with 2d images and with memory and with sound
2d images and with memory and with sound
2d images and with memory and with sound so my question is this if we were to
so my question is this if we were to
so my question is this if we were to give all children the ability to learn
give all children the ability to learn
give all children the ability to learn with all of those senses with pictures
with all of those senses with pictures
with all of those senses with pictures with sound with visuals with 3d images
with sound with visuals with 3d images
with sound with visuals with 3d images why would we need to actually diagnose
why would we need to actually diagnose
why would we need to actually diagnose children with dyslexia we wouldn’t need
children with dyslexia we wouldn’t need
children with dyslexia we wouldn’t need to diagnose them and believe me there
to diagnose them and believe me there
to diagnose them and believe me there are many people trying to change the
are many people trying to change the
are many people trying to change the education system because there’s no
education system because there’s no
education system because there’s no reason why we can’t teach our children
reason why we can’t teach our children
reason why we can’t teach our children this way so I think my dad was onto
this way so I think my dad was onto
this way so I think my dad was onto something when he decided to keep it a
something when he decided to keep it a
something when he decided to keep it a secret and not tell me I had dyslexia
secret and not tell me I had dyslexia
secret and not tell me I had dyslexia because I honestly don’t think I would
because I honestly don’t think I would
because I honestly don’t think I would be a book publisher if I knew that I had
be a book publisher if I knew that I had
be a book publisher if I knew that I had dyslexia so let’s embrace the gifts of
dyslexia so let’s embrace the gifts of
dyslexia so let’s embrace the gifts of our children let’s teach them the way
our children let’s teach them the way
our children let’s teach them the way that their minds need to learn and let’s
that their minds need to learn and let’s
that their minds need to learn and let’s understand that dyslexia is not a
understand that dyslexia is not a
understand that dyslexia is not a learning disability it’s actually a
learning disability it’s actually a
learning disability it’s actually a teaching disability thank you
teaching disability thank you
teaching disability thank you you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment