Growing Up With A Reading Disorder

Girard Sagmiller grew up going to schools in rural North Dakota - places with names like Dickinson, zap, Valley City and Golden Valley. He went to college in Mayville. He has written a first hand account of his childhood and adult experiences with learning disabilities in a book, "Dyslexia My Life."

Sagmiller is an information network manager for a worldwide, nonprofit organization and has a Master's degree in Business Administration. Sagmiller frequently speaks to teachers and parent support groups about this issue.

He tells about his discouragement and confusion in the classroom while being able to do outstanding things with his hands outside the classroom. His father was confused and pulled away from him after they diagnosed him as having a learning problem. His father thought the problem was motivational and didn't understand Sagmiller. He thought if Sagmiller worked hard enough, he could overcome it. This attitude became a major obstacle to their having a good relationship.

According to Sagmiller, physical disabilities are easy to distinguish and understand. Because dyslexia isn't visible, it is harder to understand as a real disability.

Dyslexics have average or above average intelligence. They have superior abilities when it comes to art, mathematical reasoning, abstract reasoning, building mechanical items and seeing the whole picture. Sagmiller describes his own thinking as graphic, visual or three-dimensional. The school system tests dyslexics in their area of greatest weakness. He compares the concentration a dyslexic student needs to study to the enormous concentration one has to have while driving on icy roads.

His mother persevered and fought against an initial diagnosis of mental retardation. He advises parents to become more knowledgeable than teachers and school administrators about the problems so they can evaluate the assistance their child receives in the school system. Teachers are more aware of learning disabilities than when Sagmiller was in school.

In the classroom, he was labeled lazy, slow or dumb. His self-esteem suffered. He was subject to name calling, shunning, taunts and beatings. He describes being pulled out of the regular classroom for special education as, "The Death March."

He appreciated programs where he received special assistance discretely without calling attention to himself. He has his share of horror stories about teachers who didn't understand and mishandled him. He also tells about those teachers and classmates who were helpful to him.

Taking college entrance exams and filling out application forms were a challenge and a handicapping factor. He didn't identify himself as learning disabled in college and received little support or understanding in that setting.

Computers and "hands-on" learning projects were immensely helpful in helping him address his learning problems. Sagmiller used a lot of mental tricks and memorizing techniques to help him get by. When his reading and

Writing problems became known during his senior year, the college was hesitant to let him graduate even though he had filled the course requirements. He recommends that college students with learning disabilities be assertive of their rights and take advantage of the special helps and considerations their college can offer.

Sagmiller makes a major point: people with learning disabilities don't outgrow them. Problems follow them into adult life. He describes how his learning disability caused problems in his courtship experiences.

He describes conflict with supervisors and rejection when his written work and reports were messy and riddled with mistakes and transpositions. He performed effectively as a computer programmer until he was expected to do paperwork, correspondence or to fill out reports. His lack of skills in these areas made his employers nervous.

Sagmiller received a major boost to his understanding when he read an account in a computer magazine of a man who described his experiences with learning disabilities in the workplace. He had a "this is me" experience and corresponded with the author.

This was a turning point for him in the way he looked at himself. He realized how normal he was. He learned that dyslexia was a "learning difference" - not a learning dysfunction. As a result, he became more open about his dyslexia with his employers. He made accommodations for his weakness and his job description plays to his strengths.

Sagmiller's public work in learning disabilities has brought him in contact with many successful people who have had similar experiences. Sagmiller cites examples of Einstein, Edison, Jay Leno, Tom Cruise and Charles Schwab as famous people who have struggled with dyslexia.

He sees young people suffering, struggling, feeling hurt and misunderstood. He brings a message of hope and understanding to students and parents. He offers helpful advice to educators and employers on how best to react and help students and employees with learning disabilities.