>On Sat 07 Jun, Jean Hutchins wrote to dis-forum@mailbase:
>> Not quite what you want for students and library facilities etc.
>> but it may be of interest.
>> *Dyslexia Card*. April 1996
>> This card takes the form of a 'credit card' with the words "I have
>> difficulty in reading and writing - PLEASE HELP ME!" and has the
>> logo of the BDA and the international symbol for literacy. Such a
>> card can be handed to a shop assistant when it comes to writing a
>> cheque or name and address or in simply asking the way. It is
>> designed to be discreet and to avoid embarrassment in front of
>> others.
>I would be interested in hearing from anyone who actually uses this
>card.
>I don't use one but the reaction I get in most local shops, banks
>etc. when I make a comment about the product range etc. is almost
>invariably "You had better write to the Manager/Head Office about
>it".
>This happened in a Bank yesterday even though the manager was in
>sight and was consulted by the assistant after I had already drawn
>attention to my dyslexia.
I also don't have a card, but I have frequently asked people in shops
and banks to check that I've filled out checks correctly. I've
usually found that people are a little puzzled when I explain that I'm
dyslexic and have lots of problems with filling out checks correctly
(I can get so confused taht I forget how to spell my own name - highly
embarresing) but usually co-operative. Forms (like when I took out
house insurance with my bank) I get the person who wants me to do the
form to fill out for me. There's often some resistance e.g. Why don't
you take it home and do it in your own time?, but a little persistance
pays off. I find you have to be very up-front about it though.
The biggest problem with geting people to help me with forms is if
they find out I got a degree and enough O and A levels to wallpaper a
room with. The classic question is 'If you can't fill out a simple
form correctly, how the hell did you get a maths degree?', to which
the answer is 'Bloody hard work...'
If the shop/bank isn't cooperative about helping me I take my business
elsewhere, and make sure that the relevant head office knows why I did
that. This of course didn't help when I was on benefit, the famiily
credit form is an utter nightmare and in the end I got a friend to
help me.
--Emma
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* Emma Gottesman * 'One should always be *
* Research Engineer\Mathematician * a little improbable' *
* [log in to unmask] * - Oscar Wilde *
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