As a dyslexic writing my first, recently published book, ‘The Achiever’s Journey’ (www.theachieversjourney.com) I quickly realised that people were generally not well informed about dyslexia – what it is and how it affects people’s daily lives. Some people see it as a stigma, others
believe it to be brain damage; neither of which is true. Through my research I have identified more than 70 definitions for dyslexia.
Although dyslexics consistently experience difficulties in learning, reading and interpeting numbers, it is well documented that they are highly gifted in other areas. When I was involved in senior recruitment over a ten-year period, I discovered that some 40% of MD’s and CEO’s employed by companies were dyslexic; and interestingly, many were not university graduates.
A large number of people are surprised to learn how many individuals live with dyslexia and manage to become highly successful in their particular field. There also seems to be a strong link between dyslexia and entrepreneurship.
Famous, Successful Dyslexics�
Inventors, Scientists & Engineers : Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Michael Faraday (scientist)
Writers & Artists : Leonardo da Vinci – painter & sculptor; Walt Disney – director,� producer, screenwriter, animator; Jamie Oliver – chef,
writer, TV personality; Pablo Picasso – painter, Hans Christian Anderson – children’s story writer; W.B.Yeats – poet; Gustave Flaubert –
French novelist; John Irving – bestselling American novelist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter ; Agatha Christie – novelist;
Jamie Oliver – chef
Politicians, Military Strategists: George Washington; General George Patton; Winston Churchill; Michael Heseltine; John F Kennedy;
Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
Performers: Oliver Reed – actor; Tom Cruise – actor & producer; Cher – actress & singer; John Lennon – Beatles guitarist; Nigel Kennedy
– violinist; Cher – actress; Whoopi Goldberg – actress; Susan Hampshire – actress; Tom Cruise – actor; Henry Winkler – actor (the Fonz);
Oliver Reed – actor
Athletes: Duncan Goodhew -Olympic swimmer; Jackie Stewart – Grand Prix racing champion;
Steve Redgrave – Olympic Gold Medalist Rower
Entrepreneurs: Nelson Rockefeller; Richard Branson – Virgin; F.W. Woolworth; William Hewlett – Hewlett Packard; Ted Turner – Turner
Broadcasting; Charles Schwab – investor; Ingrar Kampred – IKEA founder
Dyslexia is not brain damage. We don’t read books from the last page to the first. And it is not contagious! Around 10% of the population have dyslexia, in varying degrees. It is a specific learning difficulty, generally affecting the ability to read and spell. Many dyslexics also have difficulties with arithmetic, learning, recalling numbers and related facts.
Although dyslexia is a life-long condition its effects can be minimised by using specific methods of learning and creative ways of working.
Dyslexia is not influenced by or related to intelligence, race, sexual orientation, gender or social background.�� Dyslexia varies in its severity and often occurs alongside other specific learning difficulties, such as dyspraxia (partial loss of ability to co-ordinate and perform routine tasks such as driving, household chores, cooking and grooming – caused by perceptual difficulties), or ADD, attention deficit disorder.
As a result dyslexic individuals have differing strengths and weaknesses.
Dyslexia tends to run in families: one study suggests that 80% is hereditary. The degree to which dyslexia may cause difficulties in learning and coping with common everyday chores and situations depends on many factors. These include the severity of the dyslexia, other strengths and abilities a person may have, and the type of education and support they are given.
Dyslexia should not be a barrier to achievement and success if it is properly recognised in society, especially within education and the workplace. Steps should be taken to provide suitable teaching and training in schools, universities and in the work place, along with compensatory strategies and resources.
About the Author
Genevieve Dawid is a published author and highly successful consultant and mentor, for both individuals and corporations.
Her early life challenges of learning to cope with dyslexia led her to explore and adopt some unique ways of coping with dyslexia.
If you are dyslexic, a parent/guardian or carer of a dyslexic, a teacher, or would like more information on dyslexia resources then please visit: http://www.theachieversjourney.com/resources.php
