Amazing is not a word many people associate with dyslexia.
Unfortunately, dyslexic kids pick up a lot of negative labels. But, if you think about it, dyslexic children are amazing heroes.
Courageous and Hard Working
They spend enormous amounts of energy working around the limitations of our schools.
Think of the effort needed to make sense of reversed characters and jumbled words.
Imagine how hard it is for a dyslexic child to remember the correct order of a series of steps in a process when his or her short-term memory is diverted by dyslexia to other thinking processes.
Consider the sheer determination required by dyslexics to come up with ways to do work that non-dyslexics perform effortlessly.
And think of the courage needed to prove wrong the adults and other children who give you the impression that you are stupid or worthless because you have dyslexia.
The energy necessary to do these things is amazing.
Many dyslexics are hyper-sensitive to the feelings of others because of the negative ways people have treated them for having dyslexia. They relate to the pain of other humans. So, they are inclined to help. If you want the best friend you could ever have, go find a dyslexic. Your friendship will be amazing.
Dyslexics Think Differently
Dyslexics use different methods of problem-solving than non-dyslexics.
Dyslexia seems to remove the restrictions of direction, time, and common assumptions. This leads to unique ways of looking at situations and creative conclusions.
We should encourage dyslexics to use their extraordinary thinking processes and not bash them because they must take a different path to learn to read.
Dyslexics Can Improve the World
The special thinking approaches dyslexics use can lead to great contributions to the world.
Look at Einstein. Was it a coincidence that his dyslexia led to major breakthroughs in physics? He embraced dyslexia. He thought it allowed him to develop new concepts of space and time. His dyslexia sparked significant scientific advances for humanity. We all benefit because he heroically battled past the people who told him he was slow or stupid and that he would have a meaningless life.
What problems could dyslexics solve? How could dyslexia inspired approaches lead to breakthroughs that help all of us? What if we encouraged dyslexics to use their unique traits instead of forcing them to take heroic action?
Many dyslexics have one or more special talents. The different construction of the dyslexic brain leads to super skills.
More than one artist with dyslexia has produced exceptional works.
Many successful entrepreneurs and business leaders are dyslexic.
Actors, musicians, athletes, authors, and even astronauts with dyslexia have had record-setting careers.
The very causes of dyslexia can often lead to amazing personal success.
Make sure your children and dyslexic friends know you think they are amazing. Tell them often. More importantly, show them you value them. Then stand back and watch how their dyslexia will enrich their lives and yours.
And that is amazing!
