Hill School of Fort Worth

Unfortunately, the ability to read, write, and spell continues to be widely equated with intelligence. Although it is possible for someone of low intelligence to be dyslexic, a child with an IQ of 125, which is high, may still have difficulty learning written language skills. In fact, one of the most distinctive signs of a learning difference is a child’s processing or retrieving of information (including reading and writing) not measuring up to his/her general intellectual ability. Some children lag behind in all areas of development—in walking, talking, everyday problem solving as well as reading and writing. A dyslexic person, however, is most often much brighter than his/her written work suggests.

The disturbing and harmful myth that those with learning disabilities are stupid can be laid to rest by mentioning some of history’s most famous disabled—as portrayed on Emily Guthrie Smith’s print (left):

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN (1805–1875) The Danish author of many classic fairy tales (such as “The Ugly Duckling” and “The Snow Queen”) was dyslexic. Andersen’s dyslexia was only recently discovered by expert analysis of his handwritten manuscripts.

WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874–1965) He overcame multiple learning differences before becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain. Tutored at home prior to entering preparatory school, he was denied admission to several schools before being accepted at Harrow. He did poorly in mathematics, Greek, and Latin and was placed in remedial classes. He often resorted to memorization to overcome his reading problems. Upon entering the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, he worked diligently and finished eighth in his class of 150. He went on to become one of the greatest orators of his time.

LEONARDO DA VINCI (1452–1519) The remarkable Florentine artist, architect, sculptor, military engineer, musician, and scientist was also dyslexic. Examples of his mirror writing can still be seen in his notebooks in the British Museum in London. ®

THOMAS ALVA EDISON (1847–1931) The American inventor of the telephone, the microphone, the phonograph, and the electric light bulb, among many other things, was thought to be a dunce at school. Diagnosed as mentally ill by his teacher, Edison was withdrawn from school by his mother who taught him at home for several years. His learning difference prevented him from ever learning the alphabet or arithmetic tables by heart, and his spelling and grammar remained appalling throughout his life.

ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879–1955) He is perhaps the greatest scientist of all time; his is the name most commonly associated with genius. He did not begin to talk until age four, nor read until age nine, but by the age of twelve he was a brilliant mathematician and physicist, despite having no gift for languages. He failed his first attempt at entrance to college, and two years after graduation, he lost three teaching jobs because of his learning differences.

AUGUSTE RODIN (1840–1917) The famous French sculptor of The Thinker was, according to biographical evidence, the worst pupil in his school. His father once said, “I have an idiot for a son.” And his uncle claimed that Auguste was ineducable. Rodin was eventually given an honorary doctorate by Oxford University when he was 67 years old, although spelling and arithmetic still baffled him.

Famous People With Learning Differences: Brook Adams–Historian Hans Christian Andersen–Author Harry Anderson–Actor John James Audubon– American Naturalist/bird painter Ann Bancroft–First woman to reach North Pole by dog sled Neils Bohr–Physicist, theory of structure of atom Cher–actress Winston Churchill–Prime Minister/Great Britain Harvey Cushing–Brain surgeon Tom Cruise–Actor Charles Darwin–English naturalist Leonardo Da Vinci– Artist, architect, sculptor Frank Dunkle–Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Thomas Edison–Inventor Paul Ehrlich–Bacteriologist Albert Einstein–Scientist Dwight D. Eisenhower–U.S. President Whoopi Goldberg–Actress William James–Psychologist Bruce Jenner–Olympic champion John F. Kennedy–U.S. President Robert Kennedy–U.S. Senator Greg Louganis–Olympic champion Abbott Lawrence Lowell–President, Harvard University Amy Lowell–Poet (sister of Abbott Lawrence Lowell) George S. Patton IV–General, U.S. Army Auguste Rodin–Sculptor Nelson Rockefeller–U.S. Statesman, Vice-President, Governor of New York Richard C. Strauss–Music composer Robert Rauschenberg–U.S. painter Eliel Saarinen– Architect Woodrow Wilson–U.S. President Henry Winkler–Actor, director