Wrightslaw – Dyslexia, the most important trait is . . . !
Do you have dyslexia? Does your child has dyslexia? Is it truly a disabling condition, a disability, or, as some say, a “gift?” Listen to Diana Hanbury King explain the most important trait of dyslexia that makes the dyslexic adult so successful. It is apparent shortly after birth.
Pete Wright, a dyslexic attorney, represented dyslexic Shannon Carter before the US Supreme Court in a landmark 9-0 decision. (510 US 7, 1993)
Forty years prior, in the early 1950’s, Diana was Pete’s tutor for two years, every day, after school, an hour a day, using the Orton-Gillingham Approach. (www.ortonacademy.org). In the beginning of second grade, Pete was completely illiterate. DC Public Schools told his parents that he was “uneducable” and that “nothing could be done.” However, after two years of remediation by Diana, by the end of the fourth grade, Pete’s reading, writing, arithmetic and spelling skills were at the sixth grade level.
In later years Diana co-founded the Kildonan School and Camp Dunnebeck (www.kildonan.org) located in Amenia, NY. She also founded the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners. She is considered to be one of the top “Guru’s” in the field of dyslexia.
Pete never viewed his dyslexia as a disability, but instead considers it to be one of his strengths as an attorney, later law professor, author, and, now, as an “Educ-Trainer”/ public speaker.
In the Fall of 2013, Diana Hanbury King, spent the weekend with Pete and Pam Wright at their residence in Deltaville, VA. Pete interviewed her about “The Gift of Dyslexia” and why it is that many dyslexics have become so successful.
In the dyslexic community, it is believed that the multitude of famous successful dyslexics who have had positive impacts changing the course of our society are able to “think outside the box,” Diana has a different theory. As you watch and listen to her analysis, and if you are dyslexic or have a child with dyslexia, you will understand and cannot help but agree.
Simply “Googling” the phrase “famous successful dyslexic people” will provide a list of websites with many recognizable names, including Mohammed Ali, athlete / Hans Christian Andersen, writer / Alexander Graham Bell, inventor / Orlando Bloom, actor / David Boies, attorney / Richard Branson, CEO / Erin Brockovich, actress / Cher, musician / Anderson Cooper, newscaster / Tom Cruise, actor / Patrick Dempsey, actor / Thomas Edison, inventor / Albert Einstein, inventor / F. Scott Fitzgerald, writer / Danny Glover, actor / Whoopi Goldberg, actress / Tommy Hilfiger, designer / Bruce Jenner, athlete / Steve Jobs, co-founder Apple / Magic Johnson, athlete / Keira Knightley, actress / John Lennon, musician / Jay Leno, talk show host / David Neeleman, CEO / Gavin Newsom, politician / Jamie Oliver, chef / Ozzy Osbourne, musician / George Patton, US Army / Nelson Rockefeller, politician / Nolan Ryan, athlete / Charles Schwab, investor / Tom Smothers, comedian / Steven Spielberg, film / Tim Tebow, athlete / Billy Bob Thornton, actor / Henry Winkler, actor.
