SCHOOL was pure hell for Gary Chevin.

As a dyslexic he found it confusing and frustrating and left at 16, without basic reading or writing skills, to become a self-employed builder.

But now the once "word-blind" Gary has co-founded a company in Warrington, to market a radical new teaching programme which he has devised for dyslexics, based on word-picture associations that, once learned, are never forgotten, he claims.

"It's the dyslexia equivalent of Braille," says Gary whose two children, aged 12 and 16, are also dyslexic. But they are learning from the educational programme developed by their father, which he says has changed his life.

It has also brought an unexpected direction for self-made businessman Nigel Anderson.

Nigel, with a wife, new baby, house in Spain and love of golf, was all set to "take some time out" when he heard of Gary's plans.

Now he is providing the financial backing and business expertise for the new enterprise and working 70 hours a week to get it off the ground.

Gary said: "Reading and writing were always a problem. I hated being dyslexic. It robbed me of an education, university and a decent job."

But, he says, all the existing therapies are looking at dyslexia from the wrong angle.

Now he is determined to help others with the same problem, and believes his company, Mind Games Live, can make a real difference.

Things changed for Gary when he developed a back problem and medics told him he would have to quit his construction work.

Realisation

He went down to the local job centre looking for other work - but had to get someone to read the job ads to him. He then faced the stark realisation that he had a wife, family and mortgage - but no employment.

He began to investigate his "disability" going back to basics, to try and discover what dyslexia really was. He said: "The best explanation I was given was that it was a different way of thinking."

He realised that dyslexics don't "see" and "hear" words in their head when they read - but as a creative person he thinks in pictures instead.

So he devised a new alphabet in pictures and a picture "alphabet" for numbers. A is still for Apple but in Gary's system, the image comes before the letter. "That way it sticks", he says.

Nigel, who had sold his printing company Qualicoat when he met Gary, has also been infected with his enthusiasm to change the world for dyslexics. He heard many heartbreaking stories of despair from parents, among them cases of youngsters who have become suicidal.

"I am obsessed with this, and with doing something to help," says Nigel, who has already sunk more than £190,000 into setting up the firm, but says it will be looking for more funding.

The company, which markets learning packs for parents and schools, is about to launch its e-learning website, and also provides services such counselling dyslexic children and their parents, at its new premises at Norcott Brook, Warrington.

It is also taking the system into schools. Among its staff of five is Sheila Barton, who is so impressed with the potential of Gary's system that she has given up her job as head of special needs at Knutsford High School, to work for the firm.

Many schools are receptive, but changing the thinking of many people on how to teach dyslexics can be an uphill struggle.

"Basically things have not changed for years, and you have to get over that problem," explained Nigel.

The company plans to roll out its products at a series of roadshows at football clubs, beginning with Manchester United.

"At the roadshows parents and teachers will be able to learn about the technique and hear from people who have already benefited from it," said Gary. Tweet