Dyslexia is not only about struggles with reading
Have you heard about ‘dyslexia strengths’ or ‘superpowers’? These terms are often use to refer to certain skills that seem more prevalent in dyslexic or neurodiverse children.
Keeping in mind that dyslexia is different for everyone, here are some common dyslexia superpowers that you may already identify in your child.
And for inspiration, here are some jobs and careers in which dyslexics do particularly well.
Dyslexics are creative
Dyslexics are known for being creative thinkers! This could be a natural-born skill, or it could also be a trait they developed over time by having to find different and innovative ways to address the challenges they face, which coincidentally, makes them likely to be skillful problem-solvers as well.
You’ll find a lot of successful dyslexics have focused on this particular strength. Famous artists believed to be dyslexic include Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol, all of which were pioneers in their time.
By taking advantage of their creativity and out-of-the-box thinking skills, your child may also aspire to be a web developer, graphic designer, scientist, or engineer.
Dyslexics are problem solvers
Many dyslexics have the special ability to step back and visualise the bigger picture, a very good skill to have in any type of career or job. Their talent for interacting with concepts and ideas holistically makes them excellent inventors and entrepreneurs.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the inventors of groundbreaking, out-of-the-box innovations like the telephone, the airplane, and the smartphone were the result of the dyslexic imagination. And, it doesn’t stop at inventions. 35 percent of modern-day entrepreneurs identify themselves as dyslexic, and many have accredited their success to their reading difficulties, including inspiring figures such as Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, and Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad.
Their ability to be a ‘big picture’ thinker also makes them great architects, athletes, and musicians.
Dyslexics are strong communicators
While some children with dyslexia might struggle earlier on with their verbal communication, most quickly adapt, and their ability to communicate can quickly become a strength.
This is because many dyslexics develop the capacity to ‘read the room’ and really understand what is happening to other people. This heightened level of empathy and emotional intelligence makes them great communicators, as it helps them determine what is the best way to approach a conversation.
Dyslexics also tend to be great at simplifying more complex topics to produce persuasive and clear messages. This also makes them great educators, and you will find that there are quite a few dyslexic teachers out there.
If they find purpose in communication and storytelling, other jobs for dyslexics include marketing, filmmaking, acting, and even writing. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of the beloved novel ‘The Great Gatsby’, was a famous dyslexic writer, and there are many more out there! With modern technology, there are a lot of assistive tools out there to make it easier for dyslexic minds to tell their story.
Which renowned people represent certain dyslexia strenghths?
We’ve already mentioned a few famous celebrities with dyslexia. In the past, dyslexia was not widely recognised, so it is difficult to precisely determine which historical figures were dyslexic, but many have managed to successfully navigate society and their career.
One notable historical figure with dyslexia is Albert Einstein, a Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist. He is suspected to have dyslexia due to his difficulty with language development and reading aloud. Despite his difficulties, dyslexia or not, Einstein carried on to contribute significantly to the field of physics.
A lot of famous leaders were suspected to be dyslexic, such as George Washington, the first president of the United States, and Winston Churchill, the infamous Prime Minister of the UK. It’s not surprising; great communicators make great leaders.
In terms of contemporary famous dyslexics, you’ll find that a large number of actors and actresses are vocal about their struggles with dyslexia. Kiera Knightly, Orlando Bloom, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Wiliams are successful actors with dyslexia, just to name a few.
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