Colours
It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to my day 4 inspirational Dyslexic; the youngest for this year, the fabulously talented and wonderful Rossie Stone. A young man who inspires me to want to achieve more, I hope he inspires you too.
Rossie and I had a ½ hour telephone chat were Rossie answered the questions and I typed the answers. We think we did really well not getting too side tracked by conversations of how we want to change the world and make it a better place!
Name: Rossie Stone
Age (optional): 26
Job Title or/and Business name: Director and founder of Dekko Comics Ltd
A brief description of your job role/business: Technically I do a bit of everything! J But my main role is Creative Vision, So steering the while company towards the vision. Managing all the divisions of Dekko Comics, to make sure goals are met and the vision created. I create the content that goes into the comics, planning and organising, networking hosting workshops. I am also the figurehead, creative director and production manager… oh that really does make me sound like I am the overlord! (Rossie laughs!)
Location: Glasgow, but we sell & ship internationally, Germany, America and Iceland.
When did you find out you were dyslexic & how old were you? When I was about 11 – 12 years old
How did you feel when you found out you were dyslexic? I felt relieved as I found it wasn’t down to stupidity – I had a professor say my intelligence was above average; which made me feel relieved, but also made me feel empowered! It meant I wasn’t inferior – it planted a little seed of self-respect!
What difference has finding out, made to your life? It gave me a reason to understand myself, it made me realise why I couldn’t understand in class, why others found reading easy when I didn’t, why others understood and I didn’t. It helped me to understand why I was different! For me it was being able to understand me, rather than being told I was dyslexic that made the difference. I was still called stupid within and through the education system, but finding out meant I was able to start understanding me; how and why I was different.
What have you gone on to achieve since being diagnosed? Since leaving school I have gone on one and made a short film, graduated university, work as a freelance animator spend a year as an artist in residence whilst teaching foundation students about art, I led and hosted a big ‘anime’ convention whilst at university. I taught myself how to animate, how to respect myself, and overcame a lot of emotional struggles through school and uni. I also found peace of mind!
Whilst at school I managed to get an A in my academic exams, and that was down to my ‘comic technique’ which I then made into a business – Dekko Comics. I started Dekko Comics with a kick-starter campaign (we did do some research and proto-types before that). Since September 2016 we have sold 1000 comics!
I just want to say to everyone reading or listening to this: Basically Dekko Comics is proof that you don’t need to get permission to start something; you just need to start it. If you have an idea, go for it!
What advice would you offer to other dyslexics? I would say definitely find a way to believe in yourself (if you don’t already), find away to believe and use that to overcome any struggles you need to! Actively seek solutions, don’t focus on the when or who or how, focus on ‘seeking the solution’ and it will happen!
Also, you need to love yourself and grow. In order to achieve, you have to believe.
Dekko comics was built on believing: believing that my ‘comic method’ worked, and so I went ahead and the more I did the more I believe – the seeking the key!
Every time you believe in yourself and everything you believe in yourself for, means you add a little more strength and yourself belief grows.
What do you do to relax/hobbies? (Rossie laughs and says … time to relax when!) Ok what do i do to relax… in order to relax I will watch films or youtube videos, hang out with my girlfriend, play games with my brothers, read a manga comic, or another comic that interest me, listen to music, going on a nice walk, I will occasionally read a book if it’s an interesting one!
Your website & business contact details:
Facebook & Twitter: @DekkoComics
Note from Elizabeth: Rossie will be live on facebook today 05/10/17 3:30 teachers and 4pm parents talking about and taking questions about the value of the comics and would encourage all parents and teachers to log on and ask him any question!
Anything you want to add?
”Tell more kids that they are smart”
Please feel free to Download the pdf of this blog: Rossie Stone Dyslexia Awareness Week 2017 Day 4
