Dyslexia My Life: One Man's Story of His Life With a Learning Disability.

by Sam Sagmiller

Book Overview

DYSLEXIA MY LIFE - one man's story of his life with a learning disability. In elementary school Mr. Sagmiller was diagnosed as mentally retarded by his teacher and school administrators, who recommended that his family institutionalize him. In reality he suffered from dyslexia, which can affect speech, reading, time perception, and can slow learning in some subjects. In his book, DYSLEXIA MY LIFE, Mr. Sagmiller discusses his struggles to overcome...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0964308711
• ISBN13: 9780964308718
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Gifted Learning Project
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

reviewed by Ellen Tanner Marsh, a New York Times best-selling author

Dyslexia: My Life One Man's Story of his Life with a Learning Disability An Autobiography By Girard J. Sagmiller As reviewed by Ellen Tanner Marsh, a New York Times best-selling author What does it mean to grow up with a disability that no one seems to understand? For author Girard Sagmiller, it meant grappling with shame and fear and his father's stony disapproval. Girard Sagmiller has dyslexia, a neurological learning disability where individuals experience problems recognizing words (the letters are often transposed) so that reading is difficult, if not impossible. More often than not, dyslexics are erroneously considered slow or stupid. With honesty and grace, Sagmiller tells the story of his own battle with dyslexia and the many challenges he had to overcome. Growing up in the 1960s, he faced uncaring teachers and worried, angry parents who didn't know any better in dealing with an affliction that we now know affects one in five children. But Sagmiller never gave up, persevering against considerable odds to attend college, get a job and find his niche. This extraordinary memoir tells his courageous story and also provides helpful tips for managing dyslexia and ultimately succeeding in life. Overcoming a disability doesn't mean curing it, but as Sagmiller writes, "other strengths will grow." This is an important book for anyone struggling with dyslexia, for teachers of dyslexic students and for families with a dyslexic loved one. The message here is clear: even dyslexics can flourish in school and in everyday life and succeed in careers of choice. Girard Sagmiller not only overcame his disability, he triumphed. And here, in this wise and inspiring book, he shows an insightful path for others to triumph as well.

Sad & Joyful

This book brought tears to my eyes. I was saddened regarding the unhappy early life that Mr. Sagmiller went through, yet I was very happy for his success in his later life. I have an adult son who is dylexic, and the ongoing pain he has gone thru, and continues to go throuh, has constantly torn at my heart. I have kept in touch with Mr Sagmiller and he has been very helpful and supportive. He seems to be a gem of a human being and I have been very fortunate to have communicated with him. I hope my son, and I, can meet with Mr. Sagmiller some day.If you know of someone who is dear to your heart who has been thru the pain and the anguish of dyslexia, you might want to consider either giving them this book or getting the tapes of this book for them. The tapes can be purchased on Mr. Sagmiller's website. I highly recommend this book.

Thoughtful and compelling - Very highly recommended

As many as 15% of Americans may be dyslexic, yet this learning disability continues isolate and frustrate those who struggle with it. Consequently, Girard Sagmiller shares his personal experiences in DYSLEXIA MY LIFE in an effort to overcome the ignorance and prejudice of friends, family and society. Sagmiller shares not only his history, but also his creative coping skills that allowed him to go on to succeed in life, including earning an MBA in business.Sagmiller was diagnosed as mentally retarded in elementary school. He describes in heart rendering terms the night a parent-teacher conference changed the lives of his family forever. Although his teaches recommended institutionalization, Sagmiller's mother refused to comply. His mother's tears and his father's rejections still haunt his memory. Later a more accurate diagnoses was made of dyslexia, which affects speech, reading, time perception, and can slow learning ins some subjects. As a dyslexic myself, I found Sagmiller's account fascinating and I confess to learning a lot about myself while reading his narrative. I had never understood the two types of dyslexia, and how to discern between them. In addition, I couldn't help but chuckle in sympathy while reading his difficulty with standardized tests. I could easily empathize with the blows to the self-esteem as well as the feelings of stupidity and ineptitude. Moreover, with a Master's degree in English, I am also encouraged to find someone else who did reach his dreams despite the challenges meted out by this learning disability. A must read for those with dyslexia as well as parents, educators and others touched by this learning disability. DYSLEXIA MY LIFE comes very highly recommended.

Courage to succeed

This is the story of a guy with an invisable reading handicap and the struggle he experienced in learning to read and get educated. Along the way he tells about the teachers who helped him and inspired him to find himself as well as thoughs who failed to understand the problems of dyslexics.He tells of the success he experienced in drama and staging shows and plays. It was a very inspired story about a person who made it despite the odds being stacked against him. A book to inspire.

Great Insight

Being a parent of a child with dyslexia I found this book a great insight into the difficulties of this disorder. Mr Saqmiller explained well how he dealt with his disabilites from childhood to adulthood. I learned alot from focusing in on strengths instead of weakness to being an advocate for my child. I thank him for a wonderful read.