Pseudocompetence (click to read)

 As a person with the Gift of Dyslexia before fully mastering the tools which I now use on a hourly and daily basis, I use to call  Pseudocompetence, "survival".  If I saw an article which I thought would be pertinent to my need to know knowledge, I would show the article to someone and tell them "here read this article I think you would be interested in the topic".  Then later on I would ask them what they thought of the article and then gleam what I could from them without ever reading the article.  But over a period of time what built up is the knowledge the data base I have in my head is totally dependent on others accomplishing what I can't do on my own.  Then once I master this ability my heart is harden to someone else proposing something to me which I should know but it is too much to pick up a book or article and read it to gain the knowledge I need to understand.  Then my sights became more and more narrow.

So now jump forward, Bookshare.org comes into my life from a librarian who advocated me to become a member and today I can read the Wall Street Journal on the way to work for today (not to mention Europe's WSJ, and Asia) or read any New York bestsellers or most books mentioned at conferences.  These tools or the "dyslexic's eyeglasses" which enable me to read have changed my world.  One day I was reflecting with one of my friends, and I was telling him how now with all the right tools I can read almost anything I want and how confident it made me feel, in addition it allowed me to contribute to my work, family life, parenting......  Then he said something which took me time to understand.  He said Davis you know reading has also made you a better Receiver." 

A "Receiver" , I pondered and then it became clear, my defensiveness and at times almost anger has vanished on new subjects.  Why because if I don't know lets take some parenting skills, I can read about it, or develop a new idea then I can read about it.  My knowledge base now comes from my efforts not someone else's, the knowledge gained by reading goes thru my filters, which is the way God created me to be, and why I am where I am, because someone saw those talents.

So now let's jump back to the reason for this List Serv.  You all have students who struggle (as I have and failed)  and as a teacher or advocate you want to make their life better by enabling them to read.  Well all I can offer is my knowledge of the tools I use on a daily basis, which I discovered from my failure and my way to survive in a "real world", 'assistive technology' has contributed to my drive and I want to pass it on to you as an LD Veteran.