CEO Credits Bookshare for Unlocking His Love of Reading

“I’ve read more books this year than I’ve read in my lifetime,” says Stan Gloss, CEO of BioTeam, Inc.

Diagnosed with dyslexia over 50 years ago, Stan Gloss grew up with angst and worry about his reading difficulties. He recalls long hours muddling through printed books at a snail’s pace. Stan loved to learn, but his reading difficulty made comprehension and studying three times harder than for other students.

“I learned to persevere by using compensatory strategies like memorization, flash cards, rewriting notes, tape recording classes, finger tracking, and highlighting to help me through school,” he says. “Even in graduate school, I read just enough to pass my tests. That all changed when I found Bookshare. This year, I’ve read more books than I’ve read in my lifetime!”

Stan is a successful CEO and entrepreneur. He has completed his coursework toward a doctoral degree in education. He has worked in top career fields such as healthcare, education, biomedical technology, and computer science. Today, his company, BioTeam, Inc., builds supercomputing and cloud solutions to accelerate scientific discovery. “Who would have thought that my struggles in school would be the best preparation for the challenges I would face as an entrepreneur and CEO,” he says.

With Stan’s new-found love for reading and his research, he has learned that an estimated 35% of U.S. entrepreneurs are dyslexic. This statistic sparked a blazing desire for him to decode the reasons for such a high rate. Stan is now conducting in-depth research about dyslexic entrepreneurs with the goal to develop a training program for dyslexics of all ages. He credits advocates and mentors as the key to his success. “My parents were my advocates, and a childhood family doctor was my mentor,” he said. “They believed in me and nurtured my strengths. I’d like to see more kids and adults with dyslexia go from being labeled as lazy or stupid to a life of being recognized for their strengths and accomplishments.”

Last year, Stan sought the help of Dr. Erica Warren, learning specialist and fellow dyslexic. “It was through her guidance that I learned about Bookshare and Voice Dream Reader, he said. “Reading highlighted text while listening to audiobooks sped up my tracking, improved my comprehension, and enhanced my retention. I only wish I had this technology in grade school. It has opened so many new avenues of learning.”

Stan uses this three-step, sequenced approach to conduct his research:

• Capture Data – He finds information in Bookshare and reads it with Voice Dream Reader, a text-to-speech program with synchronized highlighting.
• Organize Data – He takes notes and tracks tasks using Evernote.
• Synthesize Data – He outlines his thought process using Inspiration 9, a software program for mapping information.

“Technology is finally catching up to dyslexics,” he said. “These tools are game changers for children and adults, and I am a living example that it’s never too late to try something new.”

Stan encourages people with dyslexia – young and old – to tap into resources like Bookshare so they can cultivate their inner strengths. He urges assistive technology to be readily available in schools and other learning environments. He stresses the importance of seeking mentors and learning specialists who can recommend best practices.

One of the books he recommends is The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide.

“Dyslexia is a gift that needs to be nurtured over a lifetime,” Stan says. “Each learning experience is like a Lego® block. When we build upon and leverage our strengths, we can reach new heights that we never thought were attainable at first.”

There are many more books in Bookshare on this topic. For additional resources, especially for parents, visit Understood.org.

Special thanks to Stan Gloss for inspiring others, especially young entrepreneurs.

Do you know someone who could benefit from access to Bookshare’s online accessible library? Learn more.