My Dyslexia Story
I was born in August 1950 and I am dyslexic. It all started when I was five years old, I had a very serious illness which kept me off school for the following five years.

When I went back to school to continue my education at the age of ten, my new teacher Mrs. Clayton saw me struggling with my reading, writing and spelling. Three years later in 1963 My teacher and headmaster thought it would be better for me to go to a “special school” so they sent me to Grange Street school in Beswick, I stayed there until I was sixteen.

On leaving school I managed to get a job in a local brewery and I worked there for many years until I was made redundant.I applied for jobs but had lots of difficulty filling in the application forms, it took a long time for me to decide to do something about it, but once I had decided, I went to see Marie Williamson at the Manchester Settlement, Bosworth Street, Beswick. I asked her for information about getting me some help with my spelling etc. She offered to ring Mancat in Openshaw to get me assessed she thought maybe I was dyslexic. Openshaw couldn’t help but suggested Mancat at Moston college would be able to help me with an assessment.

Marie made the phone call and an appointment was arranged. I went to the college and met Wendy Paris, after the test was over I was found to have dyslexia. The report I was sent from Wendy stated. “Malcolm is a highly motivated man who has specific difficulties with rote memory and auditory short term memory, sequential and paired associative learning which are consistent with the specified learning disability dyslexia.” (Phew! what a mouthful)

I was then told about Victoria Mill, in Miles Platting and told, somebody there may be able to help me. I phoned the mill and made enquiries telling them I was dyslexic. They made an appointment for me to see a Mrs. Doreen Jones. (Pictured) I met with her and told her the problems I have with spelling etc. I was given a small test to do, I didn’t feel too nervous about the test so then I enrolled in Doreens class,

I met new friends and gained a lot more confidence in myself, then I decided to ask about the Magazine group
Doreen introduced me to a lady called Mrs Stella Fitzpatrick who ran the group. Ijoined the group the next week and once again met new friends. Since joining the magazine group Stella helped me to use a computer for the first time in my life, I have learnt a lot about desk-top publishing and have enjoyed my time in the group. I would like to thank all the people who helped me with my problems. Especially Doreen and Stella they are two wonderful caring people with big hearts. have joined another class that Doreen runs now so she is still helping me a great deal. I would like to wish Stella all the luck in the future as she leaves the Magazine group.
ps. I hope my story will help parents of children who have difficulty with reading, writing and spelling and I also hope it will encourage adults to get the help they need. If you want any information about getting help you can contact me Malcolm Rigby at Have Your Say Magazine group (Monday Mornings)