This is one of my favorite questions to ask folks with dyslexia. It’s a bit controversial – there are strong opinions on both sides.

The Controversy: A Gift or a Struggle?

Tim Odegard, from the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, is a dyslexia research expert and has dyslexia himself. In a recent podcast episode, he discussed the dangers of calling dyslexia a gift.

“Sure,” he said, “you can turn lemons into lemonade, but all they're saying is that it's a gift because you find a way to persevere, and any hardship could be that way, but when you're in the thick of it and you're actually living it, and you're just trying to get the ability to do your work and not feel like you're stupid – that's not a gift.” You can listen to the episode here.

The Realities of Living with Dyslexia

This represents a very valid perspective that I’ve heard countless times from individuals with dyslexia:

“I spent my time in school feeling stupid.”

“I didn’t feel smart until I got my first job and saw that I was really good at it.”

“Everyone else in class could read and I couldn’t. I hated that feeling.”

“I wanted to do well but couldn’t read the directions. I constantly felt behind, like I was missing something.”

“I always wondered why it seemed like I had to put in 5 to 10 times the amount of effort and time than my classmates to get the grades they did. I thought something was wrong with me.”

These are statements of frustration, embarrassment, anger, and confusion – emotions that tend to surface when we face struggle and hardship. So often, individuals with dyslexia are misunderstood and thought to be less intelligent than they are. It’s a heavy weight to bear. Spelling errors and slow word recall – neither of which are linked to overall intelligence – prevent teachers and classmates from seeing what a dyslexic student is capable of. If this persists year after year, from Kindergarten through high school and beyond, it takes a significant toll. Honoring the disability aspect of a dyslexic brain is vital.

The Relief of Diagnosis

Frequently, after sharing how difficult their academic journey was or still is, people will describe the relief they felt when someone finally told them they had dyslexia:

“It gave a name to that thing I felt was setting me apart but couldn’t articulate. Naming it felt like a huge weight was lifted.”

“To learn that it wasn’t just a me problem but a real type of brain structure was so reassuring. And that I wasn’t alone!”

“I saw myself and my potential in a whole new light.”

“I felt so validated. School had been much harder for me than for the majority of my peers, and I did it! I was so proud of myself.”

An official diagnosis illuminates what is going on and opens up doors to new possibilities. This can bring immense relief. Referring to dyslexia as a disability in a school or professional setting should ensure that you are given access to all the supports you’re entitled to. Without that disability label, it’s much more difficult to get the help you need. There should be no shame in seeking support – we all need help to achieve our full potential. Knowing what help to ask for and how to fully utilize that help is where success truly lies.

Dyslexia as a Superpower

So what about the superpower side of things? Isn’t there some truth to literature like The Dyslexia Advantage and campaigns like Made By Dyslexia? Yes, 100% there is.

There are countless testimonies of folks who credit their dyslexia as the origin of the best parts of themselves and the catalyst for their greatest successes. From musicians to dancers to astronauts to sales folks to entrepreneurs to mixologists to real estate agents, I’ve heard dyslexia referred to as a strength. Over the last 14 years I’ve spent thousands of hours with thousands of individuals with dyslexia, and their unique way of navigating the world can be linked to their dyslexic tendencies in very clear ways:

“I think outside the box. I’m the first one in the room with a solution to almost any challenge.”

“I’ve developed exceptional social skills, largely due to my journey with dyslexia, and I use them to get deals and network in my job every day.”

“I’m a visual thinker, and can create in mental pictures what many folks create in a written outline. Painting with pictures just works much more efficiently for me.”

“I have developed strong oral communication skills because written communication has always taken a lot out of me.”

Embracing the Paradox

This question of disability or superpower has multiple answers, just like so much of what we experience in life. Seemingly contradictory things can be true at the same time. We call this a paradox, a term I’m passionate about teaching to all my students because until you can hold multiple perspectives at the same time, you will be limited to dualistic thinking. Dualistic thinking tends to bring conflict and separation instead of compromise and collaboration.

So, how would you answer this question? What are the experiences or pieces of evidence that flavor your answer? How might your perspective help society understand and honor the dyslexic brain? Let us know in the comments.

And in the meantime, cheers to paradoxes and all that they help us hold.

Additional Resources

Looking for more from Dr. Tim Odegard? Check out his podcast, Dyslexia Uncovered.

If you find yourself resonating with this article, google “dyslexia tutoring near me” to find support. Connecting with a knowledgeable professional can be transformative in empowering you with what you need to support your child with dyslexia. Also, reach out to other parents. You can google “dyslexia parent groups near me”, ask around at your child’s school, or attend a local event with dyslexia as its theme. Redwood Literacy and Redwood Schools are also here to help if we can. Reach out anytime.