Famous people who are dyslexic

[anxious62]

Trying to discuss this with DS who flatly refuses to believe he is dyslexic. I have looked online to see if anyone famous is dyslexic and while there are a few they are all my generation. No one beyond Holly Whilloighby that my son will know. Does anyone know anyone an10 year old might have heard of? Thanks.

I don't know if this would help, but Rick Riordan wrote the Percy Jackson books (very popular with 10 year olds!) to "help" his son, who is dyslexic. Hence Percy Jackson is dyslexic.

Orlando Bloom, if he likes Pirates of the Caribbean. There's a video on YouTube where he calls it his superpower. I can't remember what it called but I watched it recently.

Daniel Radcliff

Does he watch rugby? The ex player and Sky pundit Scott Quinnell is dyslexic.

OH has just told me that Tom Cruise has dyslexia. Your son might know some films with him in as well.

Jamie Oliver

Newsround Special

Watch out for this programme on dyslexia - date to be announced but might help your son.

Richard Branson

Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants) certainly is. Does he know him? Steven Spielberg?Bill Gates? Steve Jobs?

There's loads of list online - my DS (also dyslexic) was quite pleased to hear them. Though I guess you've googled already!!!

Albert Einstein. Steve Jobs. Jamie Oliver. The Fonz - henry winkler .Orlando bloom. Richard branson

Just trying to recall the pictures on the wall at the dyslexia centre that my dd attends.

There is no shame in dyslexia. Its a different way of learning and my dd tells me she is glad shes dyslexic. She is severely dyslexic but very bright so has developed strategies to overcome it. However i wont lie, it does hold her back.

Has he had an assessment?

The thing with dyslexia is it doesnt indicate intelligence, people can be dyslexic and super intelligent or dyslexic and not so bright, just like everyone .

I don't know if they still exist, but DS went to a children's vision training centre for assessment after he was diagnosed as dyslexic. She had a fancy piece of kit where she was able to track his eye movements when reading. She could then show him how his eye movements affected his reading etc. He was older than your DC and actually had a good reading age but has other dyslexia issues. ( Never rely on him with a timetable for e.g)
He refused to believe he had dyslexia until he saw this part of the appointment, especially when she showed him the pattern of non dyslexics.

Kendall Jenner is dyslexic

Steve Jobs. I found out recently that there is a feature on the iPads/ iPhones that changes the layout of the screen to help people with dyslexia because Steve Jobs had dyslexia.

Is there @TrueWierdness! Pray tell where/how?!

Richard Branson?

Why doesn't he believe he might be? Sorry, I wish I had others to add to the list, but my best was Orlando Bloom! I'm clearly an old fuddy-duddy.

But do tell him being dyslexic is actually rather good.

Look at Made By Dyslexia:
madebydyslexia.org

They have loads of good info and are all about shifting the stigma.

The Hank Zipzer series on CBBC is about a boy who has dyslexia. It’s writtten by Henry ‘Fonz’ Winkler and is based on his own personal experiences.

Toyah Willcox, whose voice your DS might remember from watching the Teletubbies when younger.

Was also going to say Richard Branson. Wondering though why you're insisting on your son accepting he is dyslexic? More importantly imo, does he accept that he needs support with certain aspects of reading/ writing /spelling regardless of a label? Is he getting support in school?

Research has shown that for some young people and teachers the label of 'dyslexia' can be disempowering. However others find it useful. It sounds like your son is veering towards the former.

The King of Sweden is dyslexic.

Thanks all and thanks for the links. Will take a look. He’s been through assessments since he was 7 and we had it confirmed about 10 days ago now.

I’ve tried to talk to him very gently about it but he refuses to accept it. Just says he’s not and he can read and write as good as anyone else. Then he totally shuts any further discussion down and walks away.

Redforshort - if you google dyslexia setting for iPad/iPhone it comes up with the instructions.

Poor him. He's got a good resilient spirit and that's not a bad thing.

FWIW, I'm dyslexic (and dyspraxic) and I'm an academic in English Lit. I've just come to the end of four years teaching very bright students and many of them were dyslexic. I can read and write fine, and so can they. Dyslexia is about so much more than that.

This org has good stuff on that: madebydyslexia.org

I like their sperm bank video (not dodgy, promise!) m.youtube.com/watch?v=3CppDT4E-1I