Dyslexic? Fantastic!
They actually rule the world.
Hi! I’m Laure, a passionate tutor with 2700+ hours of experience helping students navigate through their learning journey.
Over the last 7 years, I’ve supported many dyslexic students. Before their diagnosis, during their diagnosis journey, and/or after they were diagnosed.
Now that exams are approaching, alongside with university admission results, I see parents get more and more stressed about their child’s future from this period of the school year onwards.
Even more so parents of children with learning difficulties.
And I see students doubt themselves too. Even more so students with learning difficulties.
And of course, I understand. For these children and teenagers face additional challenges, that they will continue coping with for the rest of their lives.
Dear mom, dear dad, dear student, if you can only see the bad side of your learning originalities right now… hold on. For these 10 people have been in your (child’s) shoes too.
Henry Ford
You basically owe him your car. Thanks, Henry.
Albert Einstein
Einstein wouldn’t have been Einstein without dyslexia. His contributions showed an innovative approach to problem-solving, which is typical of people with dyslexia: when they’re not comfortable with plan A, they use creativity to develop their own plan B. Which turns out to be a fantastic plan A.
Pablo Picasso
It comes as no doubt that Picasso’s dyslexia influenced his vision of the world, and thus his artwork.
Bill Gates
‘I failed in some subjects in my exams, but my friend passed in all. Now he’s an engineer for Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft.’ That probably pretty much sums it all. Not only because it proves that people with dyslexia can pursue all their dreams just like anyone else, but also because it proves that the position in which each of us will thrive in society is different depending on our own abilities, preferences and personality.
Steven Spielberg
Only in 2012 has Spielberg gone public about his dyslexia and his experience with bullying. He also taught us that being diagnosed at 60 is possible, and can be enlightening.
Keira Knightley
Knightley was diagnosed at the age of 6, as she struggled with reading. Her parents noticed and made her read movie scripts to motivate her and help her keep up her efforts.
Agatha Christie
Yes, you can have dyslexia and still be a word-lover, and a master of literature. I guess nothing more needs to be said to prove dyslexic people can do anything.
Jamie Oliver
‘Being dyslexic or having special needs is not an excuse or reason for you not to prosper’, Oliver said. So he did prosper, and became a renowned chef. And book writer, to share his recipes.
Richard Branson
‘I was also very lucky to have a mum who told me to reach for the stars. My teachers called me stupid and lazy, but my mum only ever surrounded us with love and encouragement. An entrepreneur herself, she empowered me to pursue my curiosity and follow my dreams – even when that meant leaving school at sixteen to start my first business. (…)
If you’re a parent and you have a child who has (or you suspect has) dyslexia, help them find their superpower, and remind them of it every day. (…)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – dyslexia is a different way of seeing the world, a different way of solving problems. My biggest most important message to all kids is that being different will be your biggest asset. Embrace your uniqueness, and it will help you fly.’
Branson is the co-founder of the Virgin Group.
Steve Jobs.
Before founding Apple, Steve Jobs also dropped out of college after just one semester, although he kept living on campus and auditing some classes. Jobs has been one of the most recent proof that a person can face learning difficulties while being extremely gifted: a combo that we tend to struggle to imagine, due to the image we have of learning difficulties.
Yes, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. So basically 3 of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. And it comes as no surprise. Why? Because in order to thrive, entrepreneurs must find innovative ways and new solutions to an existing problem. They must think outside the box. By learning to cope with their dyslexia, these three have learnt how to do this through their entire life.
And my conclusion, after 7 years of supporting children with various special needs, is this:
It's not about learning difficulties. It's about learning specificities. Peculiarities. Originalities. You name it.
It is not harder for these students to learn per se.
It is harder for them to learn in this specific environment, which is not always appropriate to them.
It is harder for them to learn with these specific tools, which are not useful to them.
Getting a diagnosis is usually life-changing. And almost all the students I've talked about it with say that it came as a relief, and helped them get to know and understand themselves better.
But what we do of the diagnosis is just as important:
They are not disabled. They have simply not been given the keys to unlock their full potential.
Now I cannot tell if your child will be a business leader, a filmmaker, an artist, an engineer, a scientist, a writer, or a cook.
But what I can say is:
Mom, Dad, breathe.
They will be okay.
Student, breathe.
You will be okay.