KEY POINTS:
When internationally-renowned publisher Geoff Blackwell finally took to reading at the age of 14, it was like a dam had burst. He was hooked on books.
The Auckland businessman, whose work involves some of the world's most famous people - such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Clint Eastwood - had his early schooling blighted by dyslexia,
Then, on an 8-month campervan tour of the US and Europe with his two brothers and publisher parents, reading caught him.
The novel that flicked the reading switch on for Mr Blackwell was called Typhoon, a "saucy" read that had slipped through the parental censorship net when they loaded a box of books for the trip.
Without television or his beloved sport to keep him occupied, he chose reading over watching the world through a campervan window.
Mr Blackwell, whose company ran the international photo competition called M.I.L.K (Moments of Intimacy, Laughter and Kinship), was in New York this week working on his latest project, a book, exhibition and documentary on 50 of the world's inspirational people over 65.
He is speaking out in conjunction with Dyslexia Awareness Week, which starts on Monday, to help people understand the condition need not be a hindrance.
Told at school he was stupid - he couldn't spell "sure" and "and" - he had simply assumed he was hopeless at school work and didn't read.
But after his parents and teachers identified his difficulties and he attended some remedial sessions, his mind was opened by reading and travel.
He passed University Entrance and built a successful career in publishing.
"Dyslexia doesn't equate to being thick. Some of the many dyslexics I have met in my work are the most creative people I have encountered."
"I'm a naturally creative person; that's how I make my living. Often I find I'm at odds with people who think in a more linear way.
"I have a bullet-proof self-confidence founded on nothing and an utter conviction that whatever I'm doing is the thing I should be doing."
The first dyslexia signs noticed by parents or teachers will often be a child's misbehaviour, linked to early academic failure. But the help available in schools can be limited.
A survey of teachers for the Dyslexia Foundation indicates only one-third of schools are actively dealing with the issue, for instance by providing specialist teachers or programmes, and a quarter ignore dyslexia.
Nearly all the teachers thought the Government should allocate funding for dyslexic students.
Dyslexic students were generally considered to be more creative than others, to have lower self-esteem, and to display less socially acceptable behaviour.
The Ministry of Education last year recognised the existence of dyslexia. It has produced a brochure for parents and is developing resources to help teachers to help dyslexic children.
But no commitment has been made to comprehensive funding for assessing children and providing additional tutoring for all students with dyslexia.
Parents typically face paying $500 for a psychological assessment to identify dyslexia - and $30 an hour or much more for private tutoring in specialised programmes.
Kohia Terrace School in Epsom, Auckland, however, is recognised for providing a range of programmes and equipment for children with dyslexia or other learning difficulties, including word-processors, a computer programme that helps improve word recognition, learning assistants in class for some, and it has plans for a writing support programme.
Deputy principal Fiona Fox said: "We have quite a rigorous system where we identify children who have specific learning difficulties and do what we can with the resources we have available."
WHAT IS DYSLEXIA
* A range of learning difficulties mainly affecting reading and writing - but also spelling, maths or reading music for some.
* Up to 10 per cent of people are affected.
* Some dyslexics don't know what day it is, and find it hard to learn sequences such as the months of the year.
* It is not related to intelligence. Some with dyslexia are highly creative and are good at lateral thinking.
