Today is Veterans Day. The American Dyslexia Association thanks everyone who has served in the United States Armed Forces, and their families.
Many veterans grew up with dyslexia, often at a time when few people around them understood why reading and writing took them so much effort. They found their way all the same. Today we would like you to meet one of them.
From the Marine Corps to children’s books
Robert Hethcoat is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and he is dyslexic. Getting words onto a page has never been the easy part for him. So he works in a way that suits him: he tells his stories out loud and uses dictation and assistive transcription tools to turn them into books.
He wrote to us this fall and offered to share his experience as a dyslexic writer. What caught our attention were his books for young readers. On the cover of the first one he says it plainly: “Written by a dyslexic author for dyslexic readers.”
That is a message children with dyslexia do not hear often enough. Having a hard time with spelling does not mean you have no stories to tell. There is more than one way to write a book.
His books for children
Pip Is Lost in Paris is an illustrated adventure about a small bird who discovers the landmarks and surprises of Paris.
The Fireflies of Smoke Hollow is a children’s fantasy about a girl named Junie, who discovers fireflies and a secret that changes everything.
The Springs of Sawgrass Hollow continues the series close to our home in Florida: Abe and his friends follow a mystery into the Everglades.
All three books are available on Amazon. You can see everything Robert is working on at horizinappspublishers.com.
For the children reading this with their parents
If reading and writing are hard for you, remember Robert. He served his country as a Marine, and today his name is on the cover of books. He did not wait until spelling became easy. He found tools that work for him and kept going. You can find your way too.
Thank you, Robert, for your service and for sharing your story. And thank you to all veterans.
Flag photo: U.S. Department of Defense, Army Staff Sgt. Sean K. Harp. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
The American Dyslexia Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity in Osprey, Florida, supporting children, families, educators, and adults with dyslexia.