I recently watched an interview on dyslexia with Orlando Bloom that was hosted by the Child Mind Institute. This interview was part of the Adam Jeffrey Katz Memorial Lecture Series.
I was impressed with Bloom’s determination to overcome his learning disability and his mother’s lobbying efforts in behalf of her son. But times have changed. Today, educators have more research and reading strategies to help dyslexic students than ever before.
I think that we can all agree that it is vitally important that celebrities like Orlando Bloom and others, speak about their own personal reading struggles as they have worked to overcome dyslexia.
Imagine how other young dyslexic students might feel when they hear Orlando Bloom say, “It’s a gift and don’t let anyone tell you that because you struggle with dyslexia you’ll never make it in life because it’s simply not true. It’s about your determination and desire to overcome. And I think that the obstacles that come with any disability can become the opportunity of your life if you make it that.”
My hope is that you will share this message with the students in your classroom. All obstacles, even reading problems, really can become the opportunity of a lifetime.
Learn how to give your students the right reading strategies and tools by taking advantage of the free Discover Intensive Phonics Online Workshop.