A dyslexic businessman has revealed that he was left suicidal by constant taunts that he was “thick” and “stupid”.
But John Tipping, who has never been able to read or write, has beaten his low self-esteem, become a successful entrepreneur and now wants to inspire others to make the most out of life.
The 42-year-old, who lives near Dover, said: “I have suffered lots of depression.
“I am by no means having a go at teachers, but some of them were too busy with the others and I was pushed to the back.
“I have been told by teachers and employers that I am stupid, they say ‘surely you can do that, you must be really thick’.
“After a while you start believing it, your confidence goes and then the depression starts.
“There were times for a split second when I wanted it all to stop – I did not want the pain.”
With the support of a ghost writer, Mr Tipping has turned author and given an insight into living with profound dyslexia in his book, Go Play in the Sand, John.
“It starts when I was about three-years-old,” he said. “I had problem being able to talk.
“When I was trying to get my words out I used to clench my fists in frustration so hard that my fingernails would go into my hands and they would bleed.
“But the teacher would only tell me to ‘go play in the sand’.”
Mr Tipping also hopes his role in a three-part Channel 4 documentary, which started on Monday, called Can’t Read, Can’t Write, will raise further awareness about learning difficulties.
He was diagnosed with dyslexia at 14, which meant with only two years left in education he graduated with no qualifications and illiterate.
“In those days you were not allowed help with reading exam papers so you could pass,” he said.
“My careers teacher told me that I might as well go straight to the dole queue because I would never get a job. Ironically I’ve never been unemployed.”
Asked whether he thought attitudes towards people with dyslexia had changed, he said: “Some people still say to me, the last time was just three weeks ago, ‘I think you’re lazy – if you wanted to read or write you could’.
“And it’s been recognised as disability.”
Mr Tipping, who said he set up his own business because no-one would give him a chance to “rise up the ranks” because of his dyslexia, runs a growing company that fits an insulating film on windows.
He uses special computer software that reads and writes documents, he said: “I do all my own invoicing and send all my own emails now, it takes a long time but it means I am independent.
“I was 37 before I sent my first email – it was an amazing moment.”
His wife Jill, 46, has been hugely supportive, he said.
She said: “I did not know what dyslexia was when we met 12 years ago, it has been a big learning curve for me since.
“I have learnt things reading the book that I did not know about him and it explains so well what life is like through his eyes.”
A session with a US lifestyle guru sparked Mr Tipping’s “awakening” five-years-ago he said. He told how he recognised for the first time how much he had already achieved despite having dyslexia.
He said: “Richard Branson is dyslexic, I don’t know how badly, he is my hero. When you cannot read or write you have to think outside the box and come up with different ideas to be able to live a normal life.”
The Channel 4 show sees Phil Beadle, “Britain’s most famous teacher”, use various devices and methods to try to get the nine adults reading and writing.
Mr Tipping said of his experience: “It was amazing. I saw a lady, who was 58 and had never been able to read or write, learn within six weeks. It was very emotional.”
Although the learning techniques did not work for him, he added: “I think there is something out there that will unlock my potential but I just have not found it yet.”
His book, which costs £8.99 from Kavanagh Tipping Publishing, is available in Waterstone’s and online at Amazon.
POSTED: 28/07/2008 08:00:00
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