Let’s look at another example of how we can tell dyslexic stories differently, using Keanu Reeves as our example.
How we tell stories matters. The words we use for ourselves and the people around us can make an impact whether we realize it or not. People live into their words and those words can shape them.
It appears that in our effort to tell stories that people will click on we use certain clickbait wording. I encourage you to think about this same paragraph being stated to a child and what that might feel like for them if they are a dyslexic thinker.
See what you think and think about if it is time to make sure you build people up with your words or if you might be bringing them and others down.
I am not belittling that at times it can be a struggle to be a dyslexic thinker. Struggle is not the same as defective and broken. There has to be more room in the conversation and words to talk about the benefits of dyslexic thinking and how they go together.
By making this small shift, we could help shift the outcome of young dyslexics around the world. By helping them live into the words of their strengths and not hyper-focusing on their weaknesses.
What do you think?
ORIGINAL TEXT:
The John Wick actor shared that his favorite author was Shakespeare and others like him…
Keanu Reeves Suffered From Developmental Issue While Growing Up
Although Keanu Reeves has been an enthusiastic reader for a long time, growing up he had been diagnosed with Dyslexia. For those unversed, it is a learning disorder where the person has difficulty reading. As Reeves once shared the disorder kept him from being a good student. He opened up by saying, “Because I had trouble reading, I wasn’t a good student,” But despite everything, his love for reading books and plays in addition to the acting classes he took ultimately helped him with his acting career. SOURCE
SUGGESTED UPDATE TO TEXT:
Keanu Reeves faced adversity while growing up in part because he has a different learning style and that difference makes him a highly successful actor.
Keanu Reeves has been an enthusiastic reader for a long time, growing up he was diagnosed with Dyslexia. For those unversed, it is a (learning difference) where the person (learns to read differently than the average student). As Reeves once shared (his dyslexic thinking) kept him from being a good student. He opened up by saying, “Because I had trouble reading, I wasn’t a good student,” But despite (the challenges of learning to read in a system not designed towards his strengths), his love for reading books and plays in addition to the acting classes he took ultimately helped him with his acting career.
MERGED
(In our effort to tell stories that people will click on, which this type of line does, I encourage you to think about this same line being stated to a child and what that might feel like for them?)
Keanu Reeves Suffered From a Developmental Issue While Growing Up (faced adversity while growing up in part because he has a different learning style and that difference makes him a highly successful actor.)
Although Keanu Reeves has been an enthusiastic reader for a long time, growing up he had been diagnosed with Dyslexia. For those unversed, it is a learning disorder (learning difference) where the person has difficulty reading (learns to read differently than the average person). As Reeves once shared the disorder (his dyslexic thinking) kept him from being a good student. He opened up by saying, “Because I had trouble reading, I wasn’t a good student,” But despite everything (the challenges of learning to read in a system not designed towards his strengths), his love for reading books and plays in addition to the acting classes he took ultimately helped him with his acting career.
Transcription:
Hi, JoyGenea here, so I’m continuing on with part 2 of our discussion about how exactly to describe the stories that we use about dyslexic thinkers.
So, I want to just remind you, the words we use for ourselves and for the people around us impact how we think of ourselves, and how we think of other people. So, it concerns me when people make statements, and I’m just gonna jump right in, because I want you to think about this being said to a 5-to-10-year-old who’s just been diagnosed with dyslexia. “Keanu Reeves suffered from developmental issues while growing up. Although Keanu Reeves has been an enthusiastic reader for a long time, growing up he had been diagnosed with dyslexia. For those unversed, it is a learning disorder where the person has difficulty reading. As Reeves once shared the disorder kept him from being a good student. He opened up by saying, “Because I had trouble reading, I wasn’t a good student.” But despite everything, his love of reading books and plays, in addition to his acting classes he took ultimately helped him with his acting career.”
Ok. Now let’s reimagine that last item that I read. ‘Keanu Reeves faced adversity while growing up, in part because he has a different learning style and that difference makes him a highly successful actor. Keanu Reeves has been an enthusiastic reader for a long time. Growing up he was diagnosed with dyslexia. For those unversed, it is a learning difference where the person learns to read differently than the average student. As Reeves once shared, his dyslexic thinking kept him from being a good student. He opened up by saying, “Because I had trouble reading I wasn’t a good student.” But despite the challenges of learning to read in a system not designed towards his strengths, his love of reading books and plays in addition to acting classes he took, ultimately helped him with his acting career.’ Can you hear the difference in that statement when we talk about it from a perspective of, this is just a different way of learning and a different way of thinking, and not a malfunction, not a deficit, not a terrible thing? I think we need to really consider that. So, I’m JoyGenea I’d love to hear what you think about it.