Dyslexia is a specific learning disability, primarily a difficulty with written language, particularly with reading and spelling. It is not an intellectual disability, but is the result of a neurological difference. Dyslexia occurs at all levels of intelligence- average, above average, and highly gifted. Dyslexia is most commonly characterized by difficulties with learning, particularly how to decode at the word level, to spell, and to read accurately and fluently. There is no cure for dyslexia, but dyslexic persons can learn to read and write with appropriate techniques or treatment. It is really very interesting and astonishing to know how many world famous eminent scholars had dyslexia.
Agatha Christie:- Agatha Christie (1890- 1976), the British writer of novels, short stories, and plays is one of the best-selling writers of all time. Her books have sold approximately 4 billion copies worldwide. Agatha suffered from dyslexia. But in no way did it stop her from being creative and learning how to write.
Albert Einstein:- Albert Einstein(1879-1955), the German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, brought a revolution in physics. Being one of the most important great minds of his century, Albert Einstein was then known to suffer from dyslexia mainly because of his bad memory and his constant failure to memorize the simplest of things. In his childhood, he was not able to remember the months of the year. But, he succeed in solving some of the most complicated mathematical formulas of the time without any trouble. His scientific contributions and theories still have a major effect on all of today’s current knowledge of science.
Alexander Graham Bell:- Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Graham Bell himself had dyslexia which would cause him problems at school, but he always kept his interest for science.
Leonardo Da Vinci:- Leonardo da Vinci, (1452-1519), one of the greatest genius of the world, was an Italian scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, and architect. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time for his most famous work ‘Mona Lisa’. He also had dyslexia. Most of the time, he wrote his notes backwards. Although unusual, this is a trait shared by many left-handed dyslexic people.
Thomas Edison: - Thomas Alva Edison (1847- 1931) was an American inventor and scientist of Dutch origin who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera and a long lasting light bulb. Thomas Edison was dyslexic. In school, young Edison’s mind often wandered. He talked when he was supposed to be listening and did not listen when the teacher talked. He was noted to be terrible at mathematics, unable to focus, and had difficulty with words and speech. This ended Edison’s three months of official schooling.
Walt Disney:- Walt Disney (1901-1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Disney is notable as one of the most influential and innovative figures in the field of entertainment during the twentieth century. Walt Disney had dyslexia, bringing reading difficulties. While Walt Disney was attending high school he also went to the Academy of Fine Arts. This caused him to have doubled the school work than an average student on top of the fact that he also dealt with being dyslexic.
Winston Churchill:- Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) was the great British prime minister, known for his leadership during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the great wartime leaders. Churchill described himself as having a “speech impediment”, which he consistently worked to overcome.
Woodrow Wilson:-Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856- 1924), the twenty-eighth President of the United States, did not learn to read until he was about 12 years old. His difficulty in reading had indicated dyslexia, but as a teenager he was able to achieve academic success through determination and self-discipline.