School of Thought

Famous Because of a Learning Difference

  

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It is no secret these days that many famous people struggled in school due to a learning difference.  This is true, but today I’d like to take it one step further and suggest that, perhaps, these same people are famous because of that learning difference.  It’s easy to think that all famous and successful people somehow have it easier than us “regular folks.” Yet, a closer look reveals that a staggering number of them struggled from a learning difference as children.  Still, when these people left their traditional classroom settings and were able to think in their own beautiful way - “outside the box” – just look what materialized.

Walt Disney was a classic dyslexic; he was a struggling reader but profoundly imaginative. Disney once said; “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles have strengthened me.  You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”  In my opinion, the innovations Walt Disney developed were a brilliant by-product of his learning difference. Ironically, Disney was even told that he was not creative enough and was fired from one of his first jobs.  Still, Disney pushed on and his prophetic vision of a modern day theme park continues to delight and inspire children every day.

Henry Winkler, born in 1945, was not properly diagnosed with his dyslexia until he was 31.  His early struggles in school placed him at the bottom of the reading groups, compromising his self-esteem even further.  Gradually he found acting, and was eventually able to graduate from the Yale School of Drama. His television role as the Fonz on “Happy Days” brought him early fame, but more recently he has co-written a series of childrens books that focus on a dyslexic boy and his adventures through middle school.  He continues to advocate and speak  often on the topic of learning differences.

 Pablo Picasso, born in 1881 in Spain also had a difficult time in school.  At a time when the diagnosis of a learning difference did not exist, he had notable trouble with reading letters and numbers.  This made school difficult for him, and he has said that he never really benefitted from his traditional education.  Yet, from an early age he was able to discern how subjects wanted to be seen and how others saw them.  He developed a unique sense of beauty and style that people loved. His works clearly demonstrate the power of imagination and creativity on the human psyche. 

This month, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA will house over 150 of his very famous pieces, running February 19^th-May 15^th, 2011.  In addition, the MoMA in NYC has several of his 3 dimensional guitars he made out of cardboard. The museum also has many of his works on display in their permanent collection.  I took my 3 boys last weekend and it was great to watch them gaze at all the different materials Picasso used to create his works. 

Tom Cruise grew up poor.  His family moved around a lot and as a result, Tom’s early schooling was neither consistent nor beneficial to him.  He was a superb athlete and was able to gain some self-esteem from sports, but struggled through school.  With the support of his mother he pursued acting and found a comfortable place. I believe his dyslexic nature made him more creative than most, and led him to a career in an artistic field. 

A learning difference is not a disease.  A learning difference is not the result of low intelligence.  In many cases, a learning difference is a catalyst to success, as evidenced in the above individuals.  But for those that struggle and will never become famous, dignity and respect need to prevail.  We as a community and a society need to better understand the differences those among us have and treat them with support,  provide  innovative  techniques, and   new ways in which they can succeed.  Most importantly, we have to be open to new ways of thinking and creating or we risk losing some of the greatest ideas and minds that ever lived.