Needless to say , I failed first grade . However , I was fortunate to repeat it at a nearby school that had an excellent special education teacher . Her instruction , along with support from my family and friends , helped me cope , build much-needed confidence and self-esteem . My father repeatedly told me that I could achieve anything I wanted if I was willing to work hard . He also told me that if it took me twice as long as other students to complete my homework or study for tests , that ’ s what I had to do .
Other dyslexics are not as fortunate as I was and don ’ t have the educational assistance , emotional support or encouragement I received as a child . Consequently , it ’ s estimated — and is no surprise — that dyslexics include over 30 % of high school dropouts , 50 % of all adolescents involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation and nearly half of all those incarcerated in the United States .
The brains of dyslexics are wired differently . On the upside , dyslexics think outside the box in a nonlinear way , in pictures , not words . Research indicates dyslexics are highly creative , insightful and intuitive and are able to identify complex patterns much more easily than the average person . I credit this characteristic , which I identify as big-picture thinking , for my ability to connect the dots in seemingly unrelated economic trends and other factors .
In the United States , it ’ s estimated that dyslexics , who may represent as much as 10 % to 20 % of the population , comprise approximately 35 % of entrepreneurs , 40 % of all self-made millionaires , and 50 % of rocket scientists at NASA . Dyslexia is so common at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , it ’ s called “ the MIT disease .” Interestingly , years ago , the American Astronomical Society noted that astrophysicists with dyslexia at times outperformed their non-dyslexic colleagues in identifying the distinctive characteristics of black holes .
Many of the world ’ s most famous and successful people are dyslexics . This reportedly includes Albert Einstein , Pablo Picasso , Leonardo DaVinci , Bill Gates , Alexander Graham Bell , Thomas Edison , Winston Churchill , Woodrow Wilson , Walt Disney , Henry Ford , Steven Spielberg , Steve Jobs , Richard Branson , and Charles Schwab . Their genius didn ’ t occur in spite of dyslexia but , more likely , because of it .
In addition to its advantages , dyslexics also often learn to cope with difficulties and deal with failure , which is part of any successful process . I suspect many of my early achievements were motivated by my need to prove I wasn ’ t a failure .
The advantages of dyslexia are extensive , but they often remain untapped if dyslexic students don ’ t have access to quality special education services . Although mandated by US federal law , students don ’ t always get an adequate individualized education plan or the help they need .
According to Annual Performance Reports from the US Department of Education , the cost of schooling a child receiving a special education can be more than twice the average . Since poorer school districts are not as well financed as wealthier ones , and teachers are not always sufficiently trained , many children with dyslexia fall through the cracks , as the numbers above make obvious . This needs to change .
Just as important , the advantages of dyslexia will not be obtained if the child has a negative attitude or a poor opinion of themselves . I ’ m reminded of the wise words from Henry Ford : “ Whether you think you can , or think you can ’ t … you ’ re right .”
Research indicates dyslexics are highly creative , insightful and intuitive and are able to identify complex patterns much more easily than the average person .
This article was originally published on Fair Observer .
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