By Jennie Aho
Staff Writer
Daily Sundial, Monday,
August 23, 1982
OK it not by ME but it is about me.
Odell Hathaway has written his
first Novel. The CSUN sophomore from Sherman
Oaks is also a self-taught computer programmer and soon hopes to have his
private pilot’s License. These are
accomplishments of which any young man just short of his 21st
birthday could e proud.
But Hathaway is not just anyone.
When he first attempted to enroll at CSUN his application was denied because
his SAT scores were too low. With an
IQ, or Intelligence quotient in the 130 rage, Hathaway is certainly smart
enough to pass the test. But he
couldn’t read the questions well enough or write his answers clearly enough
to get a passing score. Hathaway as
dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Both are learning disabilities.
Dyslexia is a disturbance in the ability to read and dysgraphia is a disorder
in the ability to write. Another
disability, dyscalcula concerns difficulty with math.
“For years in grade school I was
known as Obell because that’s the way
I wrote my name,” Hathaway said. “I
had a backward view of the letter D.
It took a long time and a lot of practice with B’s and D’ to finally
break me of it.”
Hathaway credits his enrollment
at CSUN with the help he received at the Veterans and Handicapped Student
Affairs Office.
“I brought them my rejection
notice and they worked to get me in,” He explained. “Counselor Steve Loving worked hard for
me. He had me get letters from former
teachers saying that I would be a good student and could learn. I also turned in samples of my computer
programs.”
With the sun shinning brightly on
his red hair, Hathaway, wearing a light blue CSUN T-shirt, said that he was
diagnosed as having a learning problem in the second grade. He said the teacher felt he wasn’t
progressing at a level consistent with other students.
“They labeled me educationally
handicapped,” Hathaway said. “It’s a catch
word for anyone who didn’t fit into the school system properly. Emotionally
handicapped children were also placed under the same heading. My parents were told that I would never be
able to read or write.”
Although it was suggested that he
be placed in a special school, Hathaway’s parents rejected the idea. They feared that if he were placed in that
environment he would tend to fit that mold.
So Hathaway continued in regular
school and attendee a special reading class three times a week. After two years he transferred to the Area
J reading Center, which he attended from the fifth grade though the eighth
grade. The center, a part of the Los Angeles School System, was closed at
that time for lack of funding.
Hathaway struggled through some
difficult times during his school years, but was graduated from Van Nuys
School In 1980. He had to suffer
through many episodes of cruelty and ridicule from students and teachers.
“Teacher didn’t want me in their
classes,” Hathaway said. “Apparently
it embarrassed them to have me there.
I was a fan of ‘Star Trek’ and I used the example of Mr. Spock to
overcome the Stigma. He didn’t fit in
either. I figured I could do one of
two things -- Learn to fight or be
logical like Mr. Spock and ignore the idiots.”
Hathaway, who works as a computer
programmer for RTR Industries in Canoga
Park, taught himself programming
on the computer his parents have for their business. “I was up front with them (RTR),” he said
“”I showed them works I had done and they hired me. It’s strange, but computer programming
isn’t a reading function for me. I
have trained my mind so I know the words on sight.”
The firm, which manufactures
stereo speakers, uses the computer to keep track of inventory, payroll and
sales. Hathaway said he has improved
existing programs and designed the entire system for keeping sales records.
Largely because of Hathaway’s
handicap, his parents, Margie and Jay Hathaway, have organized the American
Academy of Husband Coached
Childbirth. The parents believe that
medication his bother took while pregnant with him destroyed part of his
brain.
Today Hathaway can read but at a
much slower rate than normal. He has
to look at each letter and select the proper translation for it in his
mind. His writing is not clear and he
said some teachers don’t like to take time to read it.
Hathaway is one of 15 CSUN
students to identify themselves as having learning disabilities said Patricia
Conklin coordinator for veterans and handicapped student affairs.
“We’re working had to have a
forma program,” She said. “Some students aren’t aware that they have a
problem. It’s often difficult to
detect. We need more awareness and the
assistance of the faculty to help identify students with learning
disabilities.”
She added that as indication that
a learning disability may exist is a student who verbalizes well, but has
difficulty writing.
Some of the services the office
provides to students with disabilities include tape recorders, talking
calculators, proctoring tests. In the
latter case, the question is read to the student, who provides the answer
which is then written down for him.
Some tapes of textbooks are also available.
Hathaway recorded his novel, a
science-fiction story, on tape and his sister is typing it. He said he is in a faced with his father to
see who will get his pilot’s license.
He likes the challenge of doing things people think he can’t.
Although Hathaway has yet to
declare a major at CSUN, he said he is interested in history, journalism, and
computer science. Ironically, even
thought he works as a programmer he doesn’t’ have the math background
necessary to major in computer science.
“One of the greatest things to happen to me occurred when a high school
teacher was gloating in class over a gifted students list,” Hathaway
said. The criteria to get on it was an
IQ of 130. I asked if my name was on
it because I had been tested and my IQ was 130. He wanted to know who told me that and I
said it was on my records and he could look it up. I don’t think he ever did.”
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