| We seem to always hear about the | | | | branded as "slow learners", sent to the |
| pathological side of dyslexia, the | | | | foot of the class. Disdained, denigrated |
| testing, diagnosis, treatment and search | | | | and dismissed from serious |
| for a cure. But is there another, more | | | | consideration. Some were put off, put |
| positive side? | | | | down and brought down by the low |
| Doesn't every cloud have a silver | | | | prestige these problems brought. |
| lining? Could the "silver lining" of | | | | Others were diagnosed and helped to |
| dyslexia be found in the extraordinary | | | | successfully deal with their dyslexia. |
| talents and abilities that many with | | | | Still others seem to have individually |
| dyslexia demonstrate? | | | | worked out ways to overcome the |
| Is there a little-known, generally | | | | problems. By whatever means, many do |
| hidden, positive aspect of dyslexia? | | | | overcame their difficulties, use their |
| Good questions, all. Read on... | | | | gifts, achieve great things and lead |
| Dyslexia is a condition known most | | | | exemplary lives. |
| commonly for causing difficulties in | | | | There are thousands of examples of |
| reading, spelling and detailed | | | | well-known dyslexic people who have |
| manipulation of words and numbers. It is | | | | achieved this and more. Their names |
| usually seen and thought of in a | | | | appear on lists of famous people with |
| clinical sense, being treated as a | | | | dyslexia... |
| pathological problem, a learning | | | | Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia [Ref.: |
| disability. You rarely hear about famous | | | | en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
| people with dyslexia. | | | | List_of_people_with_dyslexia ] publishes |
| This somber image of learning | | | | a list of 48 "notable people who have |
| disabilities and specialists struggling | | | | been diagnosed with dyslexia." The list |
| to diagnose it, treat dyslectics and | | | | includes Sir Richard Branson, |
| find a cure is pervasive. So much so | | | | entrepreneur, Cher, singer and actress, |
| that the positive side of dyslexia is | | | | Tom Cruise, actor, Anderson Cooper, |
| often overlooked, rarely considered. | | | | American journalist, Charles Schwab, |
| Positive side?!? To dyslexia?! Yes, that | | | | founder of U.S. brokerage firm and |
| is correct. Dyslexia certainly has a | | | | Jackie Stewart, racing driver. |
| positive side. And there ARE many | | | | There is another list of "Famous People |
| notable people, famous people with | | | | with the Gift of Dyslexia" at |
| dyslexia. | | | | dyslexia.com/qafame.htm. Included are |
| You see, while dyslexia does create | | | | Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, |
| problems and difficulties in certain | | | | Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday, Pierre |
| areas for children, students and adults, | | | | Curie, Physicist (1903 Nobel Prize) and |
| there IS another side to the coin. | | | | Werner Von Braun, Rocket Scientist. |
| Dyslexic people frequently exhibit | | | | These lists of famous people with |
| above-average abilities in physical | | | | dyslexia are extensive and quite |
| co-ordination, empathy, graphic and | | | | impressive. Many of the names found |
| spatial visualization. | | | | there jump out at you, instantly |
| Many become famous for their abilities | | | | recognizable. After scanning such lists |
| to "think outside of the box", be | | | | for a while, one starts to come around |
| creative and achieve unique solutions to | | | | to a new realization; dyslexia must not |
| difficult problems. Many famous people | | | | be all bad. There IS a positive side to |
| with dyslexia are artistically gifted | | | | it. |
| and achieve high success in artistic | | | | Many look at dyslexia as a curse. In |
| endeavors. | | | | many ways it is. But there is also |
| Apparently dyslexia can really be a | | | | another side to that coin. It can also |
| positive thing, a condition that gives | | | | be a blessing... |
| certain advantages to those that have | | | | Dyslexics (and their friends and |
| it. So much so that in some circles they | | | | families) should think about that. Then |
| speak of "The Gift of Dyslexia"! | | | | each dyslexic should make up his or her |
| Some of the greatest barriers to success | | | | mind as to which side of that coin will |
| for dyslexics are the low self-esteem | | | | they allow to dominate their lives. |
| and lack of confidence that came from | | | | Will it be the curse? ...or the |
| their bad experiences at school. Their | | | | blessing? The problems? ...or the |
| difficulties with usual reading, | | | | promise? Will they live in obscurity and |
| spelling and associated studies, put | | | | failure? Or will they someday take THEIR |
| them in a bad light. Our educational | | | | places on future lists of "famous people |
| systems have long demanded proficiency | | | | with dyslexia"?! |
| in these areas. | | | | For additional info about dyslexia and |
| Students with difficulties in reading | | | | famous people with dyslexia, follow the |
| were once called lazy, inattentive or | | | | links below... |
| mentally deficient. Dyslexics were | | | | |