October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and we invite you to learn some interesting facts about Dyslexia and see how some of our campuses have celebrated.
According to Overcoming Dyslexia, a book by Sally Shaywitz:
- In the U.S., it is estimated that 1 in 5 people have dyslexia.
- While dyslexics may struggle with organizational skills, planning, prioritizing and timekeeping, they may excel at out-of-the-box thinking or seeing the big picture.
- There are different types of dyslexia. Spelling ability, not reading ability, is often the best indicator.
- Dyslexia is not just a reading disorder. It is a difference in brain organization that facilitates some skills and makes others difficult to develop.
- Dyslexics do not see words backwards or words moving on the page. That is a myth.
- Traditional tutoring will not improve a dyslexic student’s reading skills. Structured literacy instruction is essential.
- Common strengths include creativity, listening comprehension, math reasoning, and social skills.
- Dyslexics usually have an average or above average IQ. Often their verbal comprehension is above average. Dyslexics can also be gifted/2e.
According to WebMD and Understood.org, some famous celebrities who have dyslexia include:
- Anderson Cooper (News Anchor)
- Cher (Actress/Singer)
- Danny Glover (Actor)
- Keira Knightley (Actress)
- Jay Leno (Comedian, Late Night Host)
- Jennifer Aniston (Actress)
- Muhammad Ali (Professional Boxer)
- Steven Spielberg (Movie Director)
- Tim Tebow (Professional Football Player)
- Whoopi Goldberg (Actress)
For more information on dyslexia, check out these helpful resources from Understood.org:
- For educators: Learn about common classroom accommodations for students with dyslexia.
- For adults: Learn about how dyslexia is diagnosed after high school .
- For families: Learn how to request a school evaluation or a private evaluation.
Uplift Voices 