A Pembrokeshire College lecturer who struggled with dyslexia throughout her childhood and teens is celebrating her first publishing deal.

Alais Winton’s book, I Don’t Get It, is a collection of tried and tested learning strategies aimed at young people dealing with dyslexia.

Alais, from Haverfordwest, wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until her second year in university. In school she excelled at drama and practical subjects but struggled with reading and writing. She still remembers being made to stand on her chair for an hour in junior school as a punishment for doing badly in a spelling test.

She has since gone on to become a successful lecturer at Pembrokeshire College and even teaches teachers how to teach, delivering the alternative learning strategies module on the college’s PGCE.

Among other techniques Alais uses to learn effectively are mind mapping, colour coding and pictographic references.

“These are strategies that I have picked up over the last 20 years,” said Alais. “Because I’m dyslexic myself, because I’m a teacher and because I love learning I have changed my strategies on how I deal with things like exams.

“I t has really helped lower my stress levels and a year and a half ago I went onto get 100% in two exams I had to take.”

Alais had always wanted to write a book and had her Eureka moment when the college asked its staff for ideas, innovations or inventions.

“The idea to write this was keeping me awake, it kept going round and round in my head.,” she said. “How useful it would be for young people to have this information from someone who has experienced it.”

The book took Alais 18 months to write. Last month it was snapped up by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. It should be available, both to download and in print format, by the end of next year.

“I hope that it will reach somebody that needs it that it will make a difference them,” said Alais. “If it changes just one person and helps them get better grades in their exams it will be worth it.”