Dyslexia comes with real challenges, but in the eyes of some, it is a gift.
Table of Contents
Facts about dyslexia
- People with dyslexia typically have challenges with accurate and fluent reading and spelling.
- Dyslexia is not a vision problem, and people do not see letters or words backward.
- Dyslexia runs in families.
- Each person with dyslexia is unique in regard to particular challenges and strengths.
- With the right instruction and support, people with dyslexia can learn to read and write.
The challenges
The challenges with reading and spelling are lifelong but not associated with intelligence level. In fact, that is one of the markers of dyslexia. The definition includes that people with dyslexia have average to above-average intelligence. It is also one of the challenges. It can be frustrating because the struggles are unexpected in relation to the child’s other abilities.
It often takes children with dyslexia longer to complete assignments that include reading or writing, and they often put in a lot of effort for a product that does not match their effort. Accommodations, such as additional time, allowing verbal rather than written responses to show understanding, and audio versions of texts, can help.
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Dyslexia as a superpower
Many people with dyslexia have strengths, such as “out-of-the-box” thinking and creative problem solving. It is said that 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. Some believe that the neurological differences that make reading and spelling difficult also provide some gifts.
Sophie, a parent of a middle schooler, shared this perspective:
Dyslexia is not a learning disability; it’s a superpower. It’s so much more than having a hard time reading. Dyslexia means you can think in ways no one else can. Learning to harness your superpower is possible, and your brain can do miraculous things with the way it can think!
Importance of early intervention
No matter how dyslexia is viewed, early intervention affects a child’s trajectory. The support needed to learn to read and write often needs to be more intensive, and children may need accommodations as they get older to support how they learn. With the right support early on, we can prevent the negative social and emotional impacts that dyslexia can have.
Resources for dyslexia
The International Dyslexia Association: http://dyslexiaida.org
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity: http://dyslexia.yale.edu
Understood: https://www.understood.orgLearning Ally: http://www.learningally.org
