Dyslexic in America

The Responsibility To family

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:47:00 PDT

Over the last several weeks, I've seen many people began to lose hope as the economy worsens in more and more people lose their jobs. as Other people are forced to step up to help support family and friends meet their everyday basic needs food and lodging. We no longer have the support system of living next to many relatives who can help us out during bad times. Due to our willingness to separate ourselves from our overall heritage, and chase the dream wherever it might lead in this mobile society. We as a generation have cut ourselves off from our basic support systems. As I watched the burden of family support shift from one generation to the next, I began to hold more and more respect for the pillars of this lost society we used to call family. The strong Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents who held everyone together no matter what. The family dinners and family get-togethers built a strong support network we no longer enjoy in today's society. It is unfortunate that the majority of Americans can walk by a relative and not even know or recognize that individual as a family member.

Were do we go from here the lost generation, like every other generation before us we will find a way to adapt. It is time for boys to become men and girls to become women, and step up to the challenges we have created for ourselves in chasing the dream and the almighty dollar. It might be time for serious reflection in our overall goals of life, there might even be something said for a simpler lifestyle that focuses on family and enjoying life. Do we really need a 3000 ft.² house for three people with four cars in the driveway. If this statement offends you I am glad. We as a society must truly review our values and get back to the simpler things in life family friends in the basic thought of truly helping out your neighbor without looking for a pat on the back or rewards. We also must truly begin to think of the values that we are demonstrating to the next generation where money, cars, houses and the perception of success leads us to neglect the one true thing we should respect above all other, responsibility to family.

K-12 Education with Strong support Services GA - Georgia

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 PDT

Cottage School (Roswell, Georgia)

Howard School (Atlanta and Roswell, Georgia)

Mill Springs Academy (Alpharetta, Georgia)

Pathways Academy (Marrietta, Georgia)

Schenck School (Atlanta, Georgia)

Request For Information - Center Academy

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:16:00 PDT

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I have sent out a request for information from each of the institutions we have begun two explore, I will be posting the responses from each individual institution as they come in. Some of the information I have requested are Annual Tuition cost, Teachers to student ratio, Date and time lines for admissions and other criteria and documentation needed for assistance..

1. Institution name, location and contact information?

Center Academy, 470 W. Central Parkway Suite 1001 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

Director: Virginia Brannan, Phone: 407 772-8727 infoas@centeracademy.com

2. Please list the methods of remediation?

Our individualized program offer all middles school and high school courses at a variety of reading levels, ranging from a 4th grade level through a college/honors level, with modified curriculum, so students can be successful in their work while we work to bring up their reading comprehension skills, focus, and motivation.

3. Please list technology resources?

Wireless internet, desktop computers, laptop computers, net books, and AlphaSmart Neo keyboards are provided in all classrooms. Students use computers as needed for their work. They are given instruction in word processing and Power Point.

4. FTE full-time enrollment?

60 students

5. Teachers to student ratio?

Approx 1:10

6. Are you a day institution or a boarding school?

Day

7. Statement about your institution and the philosophy's that you follow?

Center Academy provides a small, safe, accredited college prep environment for students who have fallen behind or who want to get ahead. Based in Florida, Center Academy started the first school for dyslexia in the United Kingdom. We specialize in serving students with AD/HD and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities. We have 12 locations in Florida and Georgia.

8. Number of years your institution has been in operation?

42 years (13 years at the Altamonte Springs location)

9. Date and time lines for admissions and other criteria documentation needed for assistance?

We recommend applying by April 15 to be assured of a place in our summer program or the following school year. We keep a waiting list, and will admit a student whenever we have space available during the year.

We ask parents to provide a copy of the IEP and psychology evaluation, if the student has had this type of testing. We also ask for a transcript of high school courses, report cards, and any other documentation the parents would like us to consider while we are making a customized plan for the student. In addition, we do a two hour evaluation to assess aptitude, achievement levels, and the best way to reach each student.

10. Please list financial aid information?

We accept the McKay Scholarship and the Step Up for Students Scholarship. We bill the parents for the difference between our tuition and the amount of their scholarship, but we also invite parents to apply for an additional sliding scale discount, based on their income and number of dependents.

11. Annual Tuition cost?

It varies; around $12,500 without scholarships or discounts

12. Any links, photographs and information that you would wish for me to share with followers?

www.centeracademy.com

K-12 Education with Strong support Services CO - Colorado

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:15:00 PDT

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting them state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means.

Denver Academy (Denver, Colorado)

Havern School (Littleton, Colorado)

K-12 Education with Strong support Services CA - California

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:08:00 PDT

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting them state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means.

Charles Armstrong School (Belmont, California)

Chartwell School (Seaside, California)

Hope Academy (Concord, California)

Frostig Center Day School (Pasadena, California)

Park Century School (Los Angeles, California)

Prentice School (Santa Ana, California)

Raskob Institute (Oakland, California)

Stellar Academy for Dyslexics (Fremont, California)

Sterne School (San Francisco, California)

Summit View School (Valley Glen and Los Angeles, California)

Valley Oaks School (Turlock, California)

Winston School (Del Mar, California)

K-12 Education with Strong support Services AR - Arkansas

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:05:00 PST

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting them state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means.

Access Schools (Little Rock, Arkansas)

K-12 Education with Strong support Services AZ - Arizona

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:00:00 PST

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting them state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means.

School Name New Way Learning Academy (Scottsdale, Arizona)

TurningPoint School (Tucson, Arizona)

K-12 Education with Strong support Services AK - Alaska

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:00:00 PST

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting them state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means.

Eagle Crest Academy (Anchorage, Alaska)

Gateway School (Anchorage, Alaska)

K-12 Education with Strong support Services AL-- Alabama

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:00:00 PST

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to K-12 Education with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting them state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means.

Churchill Academy (Montgomery, Alabama)

Greengate School (Huntsville, Alabama)

Membership in dyslexicinamerica.info

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:28:00 PST

Mission statement:

The primary purpose of this social media group is to help support people who are looking for information and resources about dyslexia, without a sales pitch. Ten percent of Americans suffer from dyslexia; we provide a place to come for resources and information relating to colleges and universities, K-12 educational institutions, and a host of other topics of interest about dyslexia. People can not only find information and resources, but share personal stories, challenges, and successes with other like-minded people. Our purpose is to have a common community with a common outcome: awareness and assistance for dyslexics in America.

Membership Levels for One Calendar Year (all monetary denominations are in US dollars)

Individual members: $50

Family memberships: $100 up to 5 family members

Nonprofit organizations: $250 up to 20 members

For-profit organizations: $500 up to 20 members

Corporate sponsor level I: $10,000 plus unlimited members

Corporate sponsors level II: $2000 to $10,000 up to 40 members

Corporate sponsors level III: $1000 to $2000 up to 40 members

All memberships will be billed on a one-year basis and will not automatically be renewed. You will receive an e-mail 60 days prior to your membership expiring, at which time you will be able to renew your membership at a 25% discount (if completed before your old membership expires).

Instructions on joining dyslexicinamerica.info

Step one: click on the following linkhttp://www.dyslexicinamerica.info/main/authorization/signUp?and fill out the registration form for dyslexicinamerica.info

Step two: click on the following linkhttp://www.dyslexicinamerica.com/ On the right side bar you will see a link for donations. Click on this link to donate: all donations will be processed through PayPal; or you can send checks or money orders to Dyslexic in America/Lewis-Teck at P.O. Box 1529, Clayton, NC 27580

Alabama

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:57:00 PST

As part of the ongoing discussion inside of Dyslexic in America, we have dedicated a special section to colleges and university with Strong support Services for people with dyslexia and other disabilities. I will be posting state by state over the next couple of weeks. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list by any means. We will be updating these pages over the next couple of months with the necessary information. We are currently looking for people who are interested in helping research the information in being a contributor to dyslexic in America. If you hold a passion for the subject please send me an e-mail at Leon@dyslexicinAmerica.com all help will be greatly appreciated..

Alabama

Name	Special Services
Auburn university	AU-PSD Technology Center
Auburn university Montgomery	Center for Disability Services
Calhoun community college	Disability Services
Troy state university Montgomery	Disability services
The university of Alabama	SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The University of Alabama in Huntsville	Disability Support Services
University of north Alabama	Disability Support Services
Wallace state community college	Student Support Services

Understanding IEPs & How They Work

noreply@blogger.com (Marci) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:33:00 PST

"We would like you to come to the school for an IEP meeting," can be the scariest words a parent can hear from a child's school. It means one or more of the parents must meet with a district representative, a special education teacher, a school psychologist, a regular education teacher, and anyone else the district may call in to go over the Individual Education Plan the school has developed for that particular student. This is done after a child has been tested by the school to determine if the child needs to be placed into the Special Education Program or when the IEP is being reviewed for someone already in the program. The IEP meeting can be very scary and make one feel intimidated because you have to face so many professionals all at the same time.

A student who has a three year difference in their learning, for example, my daughter as a freshman in high school was at grade 11 in math, grade 10 in schience, but grade 6 in reading because of her dyslexia and problems with her lazy eye making her reading speed so much slower. Since there was more than a three year span in her core subjects, she was able to get help and/or accomodatins through the Special Education Program. This might be what you as a parent may be looking at.

There are a couple of things a person should do when they go to an IEP meeting. The first thing a person should do is have a friend, relative, or advocate with them to listen to what is being said during the meeting. Often when we are presented with the information about our chldren, our brain may shut down making it so we don't hear everything being said. That friend or relative can listen and take notes. They can also help with asking questions. When you return home, you can go over the notes to make sure you agree with and understand everything brought up during the meeting. If it's not possible to take a friend, take a tape recorder. The district may not like it, but you are entitled to record the information to insure you hear and understand everything the school personnel are presenting. You also want to know who is representing the district at the meeting, so be sure to ask which person is preresenting the district. Someone should always be there on the districts behalf. You have the right to ask for a delay in the meeting until a district representative can be present.

You will be presented with a number of forms to review and sign at the meeting. These forms have various goals and accomplishments your son or daughter needs to meet. These goals must be measurable. Read the papers carefully to make sure all the goals are measurable. In other words, they should show the progress that will be made, what time frame it will be made in, and how it will be measured. Be sure to ask questions if you have any. If you want to take time to review the documents before signing, tell them this is what you would like to do. You have that right. Let them know when you'll bring the documents back, and be sure to have them there at that time. Again, it is a good idea to have someone with you to witness that you have returned them and signed them.

For further suggestions or Discussion, about IEP's please visit http://www.dyslexicinamerica.info/

The Evolution of Dyslexic in America ------- Release Date

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:31:00 PST

We will be releasing the New Dyslexic in America Social Network Group on April 7, 2010. At that time we will open to the public for review and comments. My hope is to have 100,000 members within the first 60 days, to accomplish this I will need everybody's help, an forwarding the link and information about the new site to anybody who might be interested in sharing information with dyslexic in America.

We are still looking for people who are interested in being a contributor, researcher, or blogger. On Dyslexic in America, if you hold a passion or an interest in any of the subjects listed below. Please send me an e-mail at Leon@dyslexicinAmerica.com all help will be greatly appreciated.

• Federal Laws

• Legal Update

• State Laws

• Technologies

Our Mission:

The primary purpose of this social media group is to help support people who are looking for information and resources about dyslexia, without a sales pitch. To have a place to come for resources and information about dyslexia as well as to provide information about, state laws, federal laws and a host of other topics to have a common community with a common goal. Another one of my primary goals is to have a website where people can come free of charge to find information and resources and share personal stories as well as information with other people.

The Evolution of Dyslexic in America -- Fund-Raising Efforts

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:45:00 PST

The primary purpose of this social media group is to help support people who are looking for information and resources about dyslexia, without a sales pitch. At the end of development this will be a place to come for resources and information about dyslexia as well as to provide information about, state laws, federal laws and share personal stories. with other peopleWith similar concerns and circumstances.

Another one of my primary goals is to have a website where people can come free of charge or membership fees, so information is available to everybody out there who needs it regardless of income or social economic status. I am trying to raise capital to cover some of the overhead expenses. I estimate the first year of operation should be about $10,000 to get the site up and running, So any donation towards this cause would be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to use the Donation button to Donate through PayPal or you can send checks or money orders to Dyslexic In America/Lewis-Teck at P.O. Box 1529, Clayton, NC 27580

Thank you Leon Lewis Jr.

We are currently looking for people who are interested in being a contributor, editor, researcher, or blogger. On Dyslexic in America

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:30:00 PST

We are currently looking for people who are interested in being a contributor, editor, researcher, or blogger. On Dyslexic in America, if you hold a passion or an interest in any of the subjects listed below or another subject that you believe that should be included in the social media networking site. Please send me an e-mail at Leon@dyslexicinAmerica.com all help will be greatly appreciated.

• Children Activities

• Colleges and Universities

• Diet and Nutrition

• Federal Laws

• K-12 Educational

• Legal Update

• State Laws

• Technologies

• Tutoring Programs

• Hosting a blog talk radio show
• Other

PS For those of you who are very comfortable with technology, we will grant you all the access you need to complete your task. For those of you who are uncomfortable with technology we will make arrangements so all your ideas and information can also be posted. All ages welcome if you are a Student. I would highly encourage you to blog about your experience and day-to-day activities; this will greatly help other people of your age group see the immense possibilities of their lives.

Our mission:

The primary purpose of this social media group is to help support people who are looking for information and resources about dyslexia, without a sales pitch. To have a place to come for resources and information about dyslexia as well as to provide information about, state laws, federal laws and a host of other topics to have a common community with a common goal. Another one of my primary goals is to have a website where people can come free of charge to find information and resources and share personal stories as well as information with other people. http://dyslexicinamerica.info/

The Evolution of Dyslexic in America -- Beta Site Testers Needed

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:18:00 PST

I am currently in the process of developing the new Dyslexic in America Social Networking Site. I am in need of some beta testers to help me develop layout and content if you're interested please click on the link below to join. Once again any help would highly be appreciated.

http://dyslexicinamerica.ning.com/?xgi=1JWKWoDw1KgRaW

The Evolution of Dyslexic in America

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:54:00 PST

Beginning in this New Year 2010, I've seriously been thinking about the evolution of Dyslexic in America. In 2009 we started out as a simple blog where I could express myself and practice my writing skills, and then we evolved into a site that was not only a blog. We begin to interact with other social media sites like twitter, FriendFeed and Facebook. To my amazement between the blog Facebook and twitter there are approximately 500 people that follow dyslexic in America around the world.

So where do we go in 2010, my overall vision for Dyslexic in America is to become an information resource sharing site. Where people around the country in the world, can come to share information that they consider important for other people to know. I would want to make sure the site was not a place where vendors would come to sell you things but were we could truly evaluate methods and tools that might help us as a community. Please find a list of things below; I think the site should focus on at this time. I am really in need of any feedback suggestions or comments from the community of dyslexic in America. I truly believe if we do this as a total community we can truly get the information out there to the people who need it that each and every one of us has struggle to find every day.

· Federal laws and updates
· State laws and updates
· Educational facilities K-12 that specialize in working with students with dyslexia
· Colleges and universities that specialize in working with students with dyslexia
· Learning programs and tutoring that specialize in working with people with dyslexia
· Local support groups listed by state and organization
· Lawyer referral service

PS please feel free to comment on the list above and add other services that you believe the site should have in addition to the ones listed above.

Note to family I am currently working on ancestry.com, to build a total family tree

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:43:00 PST

Note to family I am currently working on ancestry.com, to build a total family tree any help would be highly appreciated. I’m trying to capture all sides of the family. Please send me any information you have first name last name date of birth married to and any children information to me, at the end of the project I will gladly send a copy of the family tree to anybody who wants one. I’m trying to capture the Best, the Lewis’s, the Gales's, the Applewhite’s, the Williams's, the Grays's in any of the family that I might have missed.

PS I do have the ability to allow a certain number of people to login in to help input the data. I would like to capture all family members that includes all children up until today.

Dyslexic in America and Depression

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:31:00 PST

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, somebody asked me an interesting question. Does being dyslexic ever depress me, I have been thinking about this question for several weeks now it has made me reflect on lots of points in my life. Until the age of 12 years old I had a highly explosive temper and would go off the edge at the slightest provocation. After years of having other kids make fun of me, adults calling the illiterate and a educational system that had no clue on how to, educate a person with dyslexia. My mind must've built its own self-defense mechanism just about the time I turned 12. My whole personality seemed to change and an instant. It became impossible to gauge any emotion from me at all. It seemed if I no longer cared about what anybody in the world thought about me. But my grandmother called it "the lost of all innocence" some other people would say my heart turned to stone.

As my circle of people grows, who faces the unique challenges of dyslexia there are quite a few things that do concern me. But hopefully with education and a loud outcry from the many millions of voices impacted by dyslexia and other learning disabilities, we can come together and change the future for all of our children and grandchildren there seems to be lots of recurring themes that I come across day after day.

• The lack of willingness of the educational system to recognize or help individuals with distinct learning disabilities like dyslexia

• The unwillingness of the federal and state governments to abide by ADA laws 504 and others ( a couple weeks ago one of the people who reads my blog sent me a letter from EEOC out of Buffalo where basically the director said they would not file a discrimination case against the employer because it would be hard to win. there was no consideration if the law was broken the new mantra for EEOC seems to be we only fight the cases we can win. civil rights are no longer the reason organizations like EEOC and other government entities exist.)

• The lack of educational materials and counseling and support groups for parents with a child with the gift of dyslexia.

So back to the original question do I ever get Depress, I have come to the conclusion in my life I do not have the right to be depress

• I am an African-American male that holds three college degrees

• Live in a house that me and the bank owns

• Have a lovely wife and a son

• Enjoy a robust relationship with most of my family

• enjoy going to church

• Highly enjoy being a mason

• Who can reasonably meet all of their expenses every month and have the ability to put a little bit of money away for retirement.

So for those reasons above I fill I do not have the right to be depress. Over situations but just to leave everything to a higher power and do what I Truly considers is the right thing at all time. The one thing in my life I truly refuse to give up is the higher ground (what is the higher ground to me it is the place when all individuals truly look at what is best for overall society and not just their own self interests).

PS I will dedicate the year 2010 to disseminating any information that might help people out there dealing with the gift of dyslexia. Please realize I will need all the help out there that I can get from people who have gone through situations and are willing to share with others. I do not believe this is a battle that individuals can fight alone. We must come together as one loud voice stand our ground protect our children and grandchildren and change the educational model in the United States of America to understand different is not bad different is what truly made the United States of America the great country it is today. Would we lose the minds of Thomas Edison and Leonardo Da Vinci in today's society due to the fact that they could not read well this is the question we must ask one another?

2009 A Year End-Reflections

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:44:00 PST

As we come close to the end of 2009, I must reflect on how eye-opening it has been two truly delve into the world of dyslexia. The more I read about dyslexia the more comfortable I truly become with who I am, I do not want to give anybody the wrong idea I've always truly been comfortable with the persona of Leon. For those of you who know me we all see a very self-assured and sometimes self-righteous individual who is not always sure that he is 100% right but it's pretty confident that he is 98.9999% correct at all times.

The other day while at a meeting somebody said something that struck me as unusual, that some of my comments and ideas were controversial this took Me by surprise for second. I have truly taken the time to make this blog or the Facebook page under the same name about the good parts and the blessing of dyslexia, I should've known better. I have stayed away from subjects like religion, politics and people's true beliefs. I've also made a great attempt not to call any individuals out for their past actions due to the fact that I hold the belief in the principle called no malice (malice is to me when a person does something intentionally to hurt you, my true belief is most people do things out of pure ignorance and education on the subject can truly help).

This will probably be my last blog of the year I will keep updating Facebook everyday with new and interesting blogs, I find from other individuals on the web plus any new resources. that I believe can be helpful to people looking for answers. But beginning in 2010 all bets are off I will start to discuss all the subjects I left out in 2009. because if one must be controversial one should truly get their opinions out to the world. Usually I'm blog I would end it by saying season greetings and best wishes to all. This year I will begin the controversy by saying Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanzaa and a great new year to all of the people out there in cyber world.

Famous People With Dyslexia XVI

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:08:00 PST

Biography

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was born in Dublin. His father was a lawyer and a well-known portrait painter. Yeats was educated in London and in Dublin, but he spent his summers in the west of Ireland in the family's summer house at Connaught. The young Yeats was very much part of the fin de siècle in London; at the same time he was active in societies that attempted an Irish literary revival. His first volume of verse appeared in 1887, but in his earlier period his dramatic production outweighed his poetry both in bulk and in import. Together with Lady Gregory he founded the Irish Theatre, which was to become the Abbey Theatre, and served as its chief playwright until the movement was joined by John Synge. His plays usually treat Irish legends; they also reflect his fascination with mysticism and spiritualism. The Countess Cathleen (1892), The Land of Heart's Desire (1894),Cathleen ni Houlihan (1902), The King's Threshold (1904), and Deirdre (1907) are among the best known.

After 1910, Yeats's dramatic art took a sharp turn toward a highly poetical, static, and esoteric style. His later plays were written for small audiences; they experiment with masks, dance, and music, and were profoundly influenced by the Japanese Noh plays. Although a convinced patriot, Yeats deplored the hatred and the bigotry of the Nationalist movement, and his poetry is full of moving protests against it. He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1922. Yeats is one of the few writers whose greatest works were written after the award of the Nobel Prize. Whereas he received the Prize chiefly for his dramatic works, his significance today rests on his lyric achievement. His poetry, especially the volumes The Wild Swans at Coole (1919), Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921), The Tower (1928), The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1933), and Last Poems and Plays(1940), made him one of the outstanding and most influential twentieth-century poets writing in English. His recurrent themes are the contrast of art and life, masks, cyclical theories of life (the symbol of the winding stairs), and the ideal of beauty and ceremony contrasting with the hubbub of modern life.

From Nobel Lectures, Literature 1901-1967, Editor Horst Frenz, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1969

This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel. It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures. To cite this document, always state the source as shown above.

William Butler Yeats died on January 28, 1939.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

“We know more about dyslexia than we do about cancer.
We know how to identify it correctly, and intervene at an early age.
We can’t say that about many other medical conditions.”
-Dr. Bennett Shaywitz

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity serves as a nexus for research on dyslexia, and is as well a leading source of advocacy and information to better the lives of people with dyslexia.
Our mission is to uncover and illuminate the strengths of those with dyslexia, disseminate the latest innovations from scientific research and practical advice, and transform the treatment of children and adults with dyslexia.

Many of today’s leading innovators from a variety of fields—business, medicine, film, design, and even writing—are dyslexic. Most rose to their positions not by accident, but by a careful navigation of barriers.
With the Center’s emphasis on strengths rather than failures, children—and adults—can become some of society’s most creative and valued contributors.

Dyslexia is often spoken of as a hidden disability. What is not at all appreciated is that dyslexia can be also a hidden source of great abilities and frequently unrecognized powers.
The YCDC Website is a valuable tool to...

Deliver news and information about the center and about research on dyslexia.

Provide resources, information, and encouragement to people with dyslexia, parents, educators, and clinicians.

Highlight the strengths of individuals with dyslexia.

Famous People With Dyslexia XV

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:56:00 PST

Patricia Polacco

I'm so glad you are here and that you would like to know more about me.

I was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944. Soon after my birth I lived, in Williamston, Michigan and then moved onto my grandparents farm in Union City , Michigan.
I lived on the farm with my mom and Grandparents until 1949. That is when my Babushka (my grandmother ) died and we prepared to move away from Michigan. I must say that living on that little farm with them was the most magical time of my life...and that my Babushka and other grandparents were some of the most inspirational people in my life.
My parents were divorced when I was 3, and both my father and mother moved back into the homes of their parents. I spent the school year with my mother, and the summers with my dad. In both households I was the apple of my grandparents' eyes! I would say that these relationships with my grandparents have most definitely influenced my life and my work. You probably have noticed that in almost every book that I write there is a very young person who is interacting with an elderly person. Personally, I feel that this is the most valuable experience of my life....having the wonder of knowing both children and elderly people.
The respect that I learned as a very young person certainly carried over into my life in later years. I have always like hearing stories from these folks.My genuine curiosity for the wonder of living a very long life prepared me to accept the declining years of my own parents.
To get back to the farm in Union City...this place was so magical to me that I have never forgotten it! This was the place where I heard such wonderful stories told...this was the place that a real meteor fell into our font yard...that very meteorite is now our family headstone in the graveyard here in Union City.

Did I tell you that I now live in Union City? This is after living in Oakland, California for almost 37 years. But, you see, every year I'd come back to Michigan to see my Dad and family.
Anyway...
In 1949 we left the farm to move , first to Coral Gables, Florida. I lived there with my Mom and my brother, Richard, for almost 3 years. Then we moved to Oakland, California . I remained there for most of my young life on into my adulthood. We lived on Ocean View Drive in the Rockridge District. What I loved the most about this neighborhood is that all of my neighbors came in as many colors, ideas and religions as there are people on the planet. How lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet so much alike.

It is on Ocean View that I met my best friend, Stewart Grinnell Washington. We are best friends to this day! He has a younger brother, Winston and three sisters; Jackie, Terry and Robin.When I was a student in elementary school I wasn't a very good student. had a terrible time with reading and math. As a matter of fact, I did not learn how to read until I was almost 14 years old. Can you imagine what it was like to see all my friends do so well in school and I wasn't! I thought I was dumb. I didn't like school because there was this boy that always teased me and made me feel even dumber. When I was fourteen, it was learned that I have a learning disability. It is called dyslexia. I felt trapped in a body that wouldn't do what everybody else could do. That was when one of my hero's, my teacher, found what was wrong with me and got me the help I needed to succeed in school. Of course , now that I am an adult, I realize that being learning disabled does not mean DUMB AT ALL! As a matter of fact, I have learned that being learning disabled only means that I cannot learn the way most of you do. As a matter of fact most learning disabled children are actually GENIUSES! once I learned how to read and caught up with the rest of my fellow students, I did very well.
I went on to Uuniversity, majored in Fine Art, then went on to do a graduate degree and even ended up with a Ph.D. in Art History. For a time I restored ancient pieces of art for museums. I eventually became the mother of two children, Steven and Traci, and devoted much of my days to their education and upbringing.
I did not start writing children's books until I was 41 years old. Mind you the "art" has always been there for me most of my life. Apparently one of the symptoms of my disability in academics is the ability of draw very, very well. So drawing, painting and sculpture has always been a part of my life even before I started illustrating my books. The books were quite a surprise, really. Mind you, I came from a family of incredible storytellers. My mother's people were from the Ukraine and Russia...my father's people were from Ireland. My extended family,(Stewart's family) were from the bayous of Louisiana...also great story tellers. When you are raised on HEARING stories.....NOT SEEING THEM, you become very good at telling stories yourself. So at the age of 41 I started putting stories that I told down on paper and did drawings to help illustrate them...I guess the rest is history.
I have enjoyed a wonderful career of writing books for children . Who could have guessed that little girl that was having such a tough time in school would end up an illustrator and author. Children and adults alike ask me where I get my ideas...I get them from the same place that you do....MY IMAGINATION... I would guess the reason my imagination is so fertile is because I came from storytelling and, WE DID NOT OWN A T.V.!!!!!!!!! You see, when one is a writer, actor, dancer, musician; a creator of any kind, he or she does these things because they listen to that "voice" inside of them. All of us have that "voice". It is where all inspired thoughts come from....but when you have electronic screens in front, of you, speaking that voice for you... it DROWNS OUT THE VOICE! When I talk to children and aspiring writers, I always ask them to listen to the voice, turn off the T.V. and
LISTEN...LISTEN...LISTEN.
Now that I have moved back to Union City I am intending to open my house and community and invite people to come there to take part in writing seminars, story telling festivals, literature conferences and various events that celebrate children's literature. Keep an eye on my newsletter and my coming soon page and you may wish to come to one of these events.

Much love, and I look forward to seeing you and meeting you in person.

Famous People With Dyslexia XIV

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:50:00 PST

Ann Bancroft is one of the world´s preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized leader who is dedicated to inspiring women,girls and audiences around the world to unleash the power of their dreams. Through her various roles as an explorer, educator and sought-after speaker, Bancroft believes that by sharing stories related to her dreams of outdoor adventure, she can help inspire a global audience to pursue their individual dreams. Bancroft´s teamwork and leadership skills have undergone severe tests during her polar expeditions and provided her with opportunities to shatter female stereotypes. The tenacity and courage that define her character have earned Bancroft worldwide recognition as one of today´s most influential role models for women and girls. She has been named among Glamour magazine´s "Women of the Year" (2001); featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Women´s Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazine´s "Woman of the Year&quote; (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her accomplishments.

Major Accomplishments
February 2001 - Bancroft and Norwegian polar explorer Liv Arnesen become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica´s landmass - completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek. - 1993 - Bancroft leads the American Women´s Expedition to the South Pole, a 67-day expedition of 660 miles (1,060 km) on skis by four women, earning the distinction of being the first woman in history to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles. - 1992 - Bancroft leads the first American women´s east to west crossing of Greenland. - 1986 - Bancroft dogsleds 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition, earning the distinction of being the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North Pole.

Background
Born in 1955 in Mendota Heights, Minn., Bancroft´s love of the outdoors began early in life. Aside from the two years she spent with her family in Kenya, East Africa (in fifth and sixth grades), Bancroft was a student of Minnesota´s vast wilderness. Her father often took her on camping and canoe trips in northern Minnesota. At age eight, she began to lead her own mini-expeditions, cajoling her cousins into accompanying her on backyard winter camping trips.
Bancroft´s passion for exploring our natural world is matched by her enthusiasm for teaching children. After earning a bachelor of science degree in physical education from the University of Oregon, Bancroft taught physical and special education in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. schools and coached various high school sports. She currently is an instructor for Wilderness Inquiry, an organization that helps disabled and able-bodied individuals enjoy the wilderness year round.

Bancroft´s other achievements include founding and leading the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non-profit organization that celebrates the existing and potential achievements of women and girls.

Since the Bancroft Arnesen Expedition, Bancroft and Arnesen´s inspirational story has helped shape Bancroft Arnesen Explore, designed to share Ann and Liv´s stories with audiences around the globe through multi-media presentations, short films, workshops, curricula andlectures as a way to motivate people to reach for their own dreams, particularly women and girls. An internationally known entity, Bancroft´s expeditions have been followed by BBC, CNN, National Public Radio, NBC Nightly News and NBC´s Today show. She also has been featured in Time, People, USA Today, Ms., McCall´s, Ladies Home Journal, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, National Geographic, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Sports Illustrated for Women, O, the Oprah Magazine, and Time for Kids. Bancroft is a spokesperson for the Learning Disabilities Association, Wilderness Inquiry and Girl Scouts of the USA. She serves on the board of Youth Frontiers, co-chairs the Wilderness Inquiry capital campaign and is a judge for the Nuclear-Free awards and the National Women´s Hall of Fame inductions. Bancroft also is on the advisory board of the Melpomene Institute and Medica.

Bancroft currently lives in Scandia, MN

Right and Wrong In The World Of Dyslexia

leon@leonlewis.com (Leon Lewis Jr) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:58:00 PST

Over the past couple months the subject of dyslexia has become a major research point for me. Even though I am 40+ years old and have been blessed with the gift of dyslexia, it has always been something in the background for me. This research has yielded many explanations on some of my unique behavior. I have a terrible problem with the concept of gray, everything in my life is (black or white) - (right or wrong). I have never truly grasped why I'd dislike the middle ground so much you are either for something or against it there is no middle. Let me explain one of my pet peeves in life manifest destiny this is a term that the early settlers of the United States use to justify the senseless murder of the native people in the so-called education of the native people to convert them to Christianity.

The other day I was having a conversation with my wife about the concept of absolutely right and absolutely wrong no matter how much I tried and no matter how patient I was this is a concept that does not register for her. After some self reflection I began to ask myself the question why are you still stuck on the concept of absolute right and wrong. Earlier that day I was reading article By Ronald D. Davis. Called (the 37 Common Characteristics of Dyslexia) this article truly enlighten me there is a section of the article that states "Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection" after reading this article in the statement above. I began to seriously reflect on my strong belief in right and wrong. I've come to the conclusion that my mind thinks in such a unique way as a dyslexic things in life must be absolute it is quite difficult for me to understand anything that is not 100% right or wrong. It is not that I do not believe people do not do wrong I just wish you call it what it is. If you shoot a person in self-defense and kill them, you absolutely have the right to defend your life but that does not make the killing of another individual right it just makes it legally justified.

So when you talk to me about things in gray areas of life it highly frustrates me to no end. I have a true understanding. that some time as human beings we have no choice but to do things that we know are wrong to survive from day to day. It is the unique ability of some people who believe no matter how wrong or immoral there action is that they are special enough to have it fall into some kind of gray area. It is the overall justification that they are so special that they can never do anything wrong it always has a good reason. So when you choose not to take the high road and do something that is wrong my only request to you is to please call it what it is. So I guess the whole point of this blog was to those of you who have children with the gift of dyslexia. Please take time to think about how your actions affect your children you're dealing with a group of individuals who need absolute logic. Just because you have a good understanding of i.e. what is politically correct or correct for the moment does not mean a person who needs 100% logic will grasp this concept.

PS this is dedicated to all of unique individuals who have a 100% understanding of the gray area.