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Writers and learning disabilities

4/23/2017

12 Comments

 
by Gwendolyn M Plano
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​When my eldest son was a toddler, I was a grad student at Purdue University. The psych department needed children for IQ testing, and I agreed to let my son be part of their study. Afterwards, the department chair met with me and explained that they did not have the ability to test my son’s full potential, because his IQ exceeded 140.

Fast forward several years to Ossining, NY. Unbeknown to me, this same child was being tested again – this time to see if he was mentally delayed. His teacher thought his reading and writing problems were due to a low IQ. The school psychologist requested to meet with me, and I walked into her office not knowing why I was there.


I soon learned about the teacher’s concern and the testing that was done and then was told the following. My son’s IQ was as the Purdue psych department had suggested, but he had learning disabilities. I didn’t know what that was, so the psychologist began by giving me a list of famous people who had LD – people like the following: Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, John F Kennedy, Charles Darwin, Agatha Christie, George Washington, Octavia Estelle Butler, WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Franklin, Jules Verne, John Irving and many, many others.

She then proceeded to explain that her doctoral research focused on learning disabilities, and she had developed a one-on-one tutoring program for children such as my son. The long and the short of it is that he had daily tutoring for a couple of years; and I became a tutor to offset the cost of such treatment. Today, my son is a successful writer.

Why do I share all of this?

My personal experience and my work with LD students has alerted me to challenges that most may not see. For example, my sister can’t write a sentence without misspelling a word or leaving out notable punctuation. She has carried the burden of critique all her life. Even though her insights may be brilliant, her written expression of those insights can be quite baffling. She did not have the tutoring my son had.


Many writers deal with LD and most resort to editors to catch the comma, the period and the misspellings. The editors (and readers) can see that which these writers do not perceive. 

Yesterday, I came upon an article by Pete Quily that fascinated me. It lists advantages for LD writers with ADHD. I thought the list impressive, for it includes the following:   
  1. Ability to hyper-focus for hours on things of interest.
  2. High levels of curiosity.
  3. Extreme creativity.  
  4. Great hunters of information. 
  5. Notice what others do not see.
  6. Challenge the status quo.
  7. Fast processing minds IF they find the topic interesting. 
  8. High energy levels.
  9. Multitask with ease, may have 2 or 3 browsers open with multiple tabs.
  10. Adrenaline (deadlines) helps with focus.
  11. The impossible is a strong motivator. 
 
Do you know a writer with LD? If you do, she or he may be like John Irving, who was called "lazy" and "stupid" because of his disability. Irving acknowledges, "I write very quickly; I rewrite very slowly. It takes me nearly as long to rewrite a book as it does to get the first draft...Half of my life has been an act of revision."

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12 Comments
D.L. Finn
4/24/2017 01:16:52

Thank you for posting this Gwen. It touched upon a skill I've fought for years and was unaware it wasn't normal. I love the quote by Agatha Christie and glad your son got the needed help. I raised two very smart ADHD children, as well, with some learning issues. Nice to see they are in good company!

Reply
Gwen Plano
4/24/2017 07:29:36

Thank you, D.L.... We are complex humans, aren't we? Our gifts are sometimes wrapped in challenges, but they are gifts nonetheless. It seems like some of our most creative souls are ADHD.... :)

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Dave Doran link
4/24/2017 04:37:15

An interesting article Gwen. I wonder if we were able to go through history and psychologically profile some of the great writers, how many of them would fall outside what would be regarded as normal? I can only speak of my experiences within the UK, but here the education system struggles to cope with people who fall outside of the perceived normal range and brilliant minds can be lost at an early age.

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Gwen Plano
4/24/2017 07:34:56

Your question has me wondering, Dave. I suspect many of the great writers would fall outside the standard normal - and probably many of the incredible painters as well. Thank you for the insights and comment. :)

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john howell link
4/24/2017 06:51:42

So glad your son is doing well. John Irving is one of my favorite authors and has written some amazing books. Excellent post, Gwen. Thank you for sharing.

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Gwen Plano
4/24/2017 07:39:40

Thank you, John. I haven't read any of Irving's books, but I'm fascinated by him because of his LD journey.

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John Fioravanti
4/24/2017 07:26:30

Excellent post, Gwen. My wife, Anne, just spent a year working in t he Accessibility Department at the University of Waterloo. Her job was to implement the new software system that replaced the system of paper registrations, etc. She was born with a 75% hearing loss which has devolved to 99% loss. Rather than go to a school for the deaf, she learned how to read lips and got her degree in English. She was amazed to discover the assistance that people with mental, physical, and learning disabilities can access these days. But, no matter how much quality assistance a person receives, he or she must also have the courage and drive to be successful in spite of the disability.

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Gwen Plano
4/24/2017 07:55:39

Thank you, John. You are right - it takes courage and determination. My son's HS math teacher told him that he was not bright enough for algebra. Well, my son decided to prove him wrong - and did, winning a state award and top grades for the course. The specialized tutoring he received in grade school helped him believe in himself - a key component I believe.

Reply
Jan Sikes link
4/24/2017 10:44:21

Oh my, Gwen. That quote by Agatha Christie shocked me. Wow! Great blog! This would be a subject worthy of Aspire to Inspire!

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Gwen Plano
5/10/2017 08:08:18

Thank you, Jan. It's amazing how many writers are burdened with Learning Disabilities. All the best.....

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Julie Watson
5/10/2017 02:14:10

Thank you again Gwen for such a thought provoking blog. My grand son has ADHD and struggles very much. Like so many others he does have talents and it is in encouraging him in these strengths that he will be able to find his niche in life. As you have written even Agatha Christie struggled, which is encouraging for those who do have learning issues.

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Gwen Plano
5/10/2017 08:12:40

Thank you, Julie. There are so many creative folks who deal with Learning Disabilities. With patience, your grandson will find his strengths. ♥ All the best!

Reply



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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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