Some individuals with Learning Disabilities explain to me that they sometimes feel isolated and and alone. Although this is probably true for most people, regardless of whether one has LD, people also tell me that learning about others who have “made it” despite their Learning Disabilities helps to mitigate these feelings.
That’s the good side of talking about high-achieving individuals with Learning Disabilities. The bad side is that the press, in my opinion, shines the light on too few individuals and selects almost exclusively those who are celebrated because of extraordinary achievement (e.g., Charles Schwab or Greg Louganis), mistakenly sending the message that everyone can be a celebrity. Worse: Only those who accomplish great things are to be admired.
A realistic accounting would show that there are many more individiuals with Learning Disablities who have managed to achieve well, if not at the level required for celebrity. It is these folks whom we should be celebrating. They have accomplished lots, even if their lives are quiet and essentially normal. There are some personal stories of this sort in a section of Richard Wanderman’s site, LD Resources.
Sphere: Related Content
I’ve been compiling such stories under the heading, “high achieving dyslexics” for a couple of years. I’ve lost count — over thirty, anyway. The method? I have a Google Alert for “dyslexic” — I read most of the stories; if the story mentions that the story subject has dyslexia, I write a post. Here’s the list:
High achieving dyslexics.
No, it is not scientific, but it is better than nothing.
John, there’s another source these days: YouTube. Here’s a smattering. I’m posting this list later this week (I stockpile posts on Sunday for the rest of the week) but I know I’ll forget to come back here and post the links, so here goes:
Not a complete listing, just a start
YouTube: The Struggle Through SchoolYouTube: Dyscalculia YouTube: Learning Difficulties AwarenessYouTube: Dyscalculia: It’s More Than MathYou Tube: Public Service Announcement from IDA–Frustrating
I don’t vouch for the quality of the content — I’ve not watched all of them — but it is again, a start.
Phooey. Let me try that again with better breaks between the individual video links.
Not a complete listing, just a start
YouTube: The Struggle Through School
YouTube: Dyscalculia
YouTube: Learning Difficulties Awareness
YouTube: Dyscalculia: It’s More Than Math
You Tube: Public Service Announcement from IDA–Frustrating
Liz, thanks for the add-in. I was thinking of your list (and the few similar items I’ve added to LD Blog) as a wrote this post. I should’ve linked to your list.
Richard’s is a bit different, though, in that it’s not so much folks who are in the news.
Regarding high achievers with learning disabilities. Excellent point. When I go into school tomorrow I’m going to have my students view the You Tube links-if the school hasn’t blocked them. Thanks for the heads up.
Elona, thanks for dropping a note. I hope that the videos turn out to be good. Please let us know your reviews and your students’ reactions.