Math Disabilites
 Albert Einstein failed math in school. However, problems with
arithmetic didn’t get in the way of him comprehending complex
mathematical problems. He eventually developed the famous
theory of relativity and won the Nobel Prize. Certainly no one
now thinks he was stupid!
 Benjamin Franklin was never good at math calculation. He had
only a few years of formal schooling. However, he became a
writer and publisher, inventor and statesman. He signed the
Declaration of Independence, proved that lightning was a form
of electricity, and is pictured on the US $100 bill.
 Cher had severe, undiagnosed dyslexia growing up, in addition
to her dyscalculia. She found her place on stage and screen as a
singer and actress, appearing with Sony Bono as “Sony and Cher”
and in movies like Moonstruck and The Witches of Eastwick
Reading Disabilities
 Tom Cruise, one of the most recognizable actors on screen today, did poorly in
school, and threw himself into athletics. When an injury ended that activity for
him, he started acting. Cruise reports the secret to his success, despite dyslexia,
was thinking visually, a relative strength for him.
 Woodrow Wilson didn’t learn to read until he was 12 years old. In junior high
school, he taught himself shorthand to help with taking notes, and his father
tutored him. Reading continued to be difficult for him throughout his life, but
he was very smart and very determined. As an adult, he became the President
of Princeton University, the Governor of New Jersey, and ultimately the 28th
President of the United States.
 Thomas Edison most likely had learning disabilities in both reading and
mathematics. He went to school only very briefly because, after three months,
the staff declared him to be “addled” and threw him out. While Edison may not
have been good at reading and arithmetic, he was obviously very smart. He
began his adult life as a telegrapher and later became an inventor. He held well
over 1,000 patents, and is most famous for inventing the electric light.
Reading Disabilities Cont.
 Whoopi Goldberg never knew why reading was so hard
for her growing up. Other kids teased her and called her
“dumb,” but her family knew she was intelligent.
Performing was her passion, and she began acting and
doing standup comedy. Only as an adult was she diagnosed
with dyslexia.
 Leonardo DaVinci lived long before there were tests for
dyslexia. However, his spelling was very unusual, and he
often wrote from right to left as left-handers with dyslexia
often do. Leonardo is recognized as one of the greatest
scientists, inventors and artists of his time, and was so
forward thinking that he sketched such things as
helicopters long before humans took flight.
Reading Disabilities Cont.
 Winston Churchill did poorly in school. He remembered, “I was, on
the whole, considerably discouraged by my school days. It was not
pleasant to feel oneself so completely outclassed and left behind at the
beginning of the race.” Churchill was determined to succeed, and
indeed he did. He is one of the best known Prime Ministers of the
United Kingdom, leading his country to victory in World War II.
 Orlando Bloom was diagnosed with dyslexia during his childhood. He
struggled in school, so his mother encouraged him to participate in art
and drama classes. You may know him as Legolas in the “Lord of the
Rings” movies, or as Will Turner in the “Pirates of the Carribean” series.
 John Lennon’s school report card once said he was, “Certainly on the
road to failure … hopeless … rather a clown in class … wasting other
pupils’ time.” Many experts believe, however, that he was dyslexic.
Though frequently in trouble, he was a talented musician. He founded
the band the Quarrymen at age 15. The band eventually evolved into
the Beatles, one of the most popular successful rock bands of all time.
Reading Disabilities Cont.
 Pablo Picasso had trouble getting his letters facing the correct way when he
wrote, and was labeled as dyslexic. Reading was difficult for him throughout
his life, but art was his passion. He threw his energy into drawing and painting,
becoming a famous artist who revolutionized the art world.
 Jay Leno got mostly C’s and D’s in school due to his mild dyslexia. He wanted
to attend Emerson College, a college for the theater, film, journalism and
communications, but the admissions director told him he was a poor candidate
for the school. Leno sat outside the man’s office for 5 days, 12 hours per day,
until he was admitted. He became a famous standup comedian and, when the
legendary Johnny Carson retired, the host of the “Tonight Show.” He says that
his dyslexia taught him the perseverance necessary to succeed in comedy.
 Walt Disney was labeled as “slow” in school. He worked for a Kansas City
newspaper but was fired for his “lack of creativity.” Walt knew that what others
thought was not important, and followed his love for drawing and animation.
His best known character, Mickey Mouse, has entertained children and adults
for more than 80 years, and the company he built has become one of the most
beloved in the world of entertainment.
Anxiety Disorders
 John Madden is a former NFL player and head coach (including
coaching the Oakland Raiders to a Superbowl Championship in 1976),
a television sportscaster and the man behind the “Madden NFL” video
games. However, he has not flown on an airplane in more than 30 years
because of a specific phobia of enclosed spaces, particularly planes.
 David Beckham, the famous British soccer (football) player, has three
refrigerators in his house to keep drinks, meats and salads separate.
Everything in them has to be in pairs. He also sorts his shirts by color.
Beckham struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
 Howie Mandel hosts the TV show “Deal or No Deal” and has appeared
in numerous TV shows and movies. You might notice that he never
shakes hands with contestants on his show. That’s because he has
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and is afraid of germs. That’s also why
he shaves his head – to feel cleaner.
 Howard Stern also has a diagnosis of OCD, but it hasn’t kept him from
building a radio show following from around the world.
Austism
 Satoshi Tajiri lives with Asperger Syndrome. As a child in Japan,
he collected insects and wanted to be an entomologist. Other
kids teased him and called him “Dr. Bug.” He also was fascinated
with video games and often cut class, so he didn’t graduate from
school. His name may not be familiar to you, but his work
probably is. He created Pokemon!
 Darryl Hannah was diagnosed as “borderline autistic” when she
was three years old. It may be that, had she been evaluated later,
she would have been found to have Pervasive Developmental
Disorder, NOS or Asperger Syndrome. Hannah is a Hollywood
actress who starred in the move Splash and the Kill Bill movies.
 James Durbin didn’t let Asperger Syndrome get in the way of his
singing career. In 2011, he finished in the top four in the tenth
season of American Idol.
ADD/ADHD
 Michael Phelps had a very hard time sitting still, and so he was
encouraged to engage in physical activity to have a positive outlet for
his energy. He took up swimming when he was 7 years old. He was
diagnosed with ADHD at 9 and started taking medication, but didn’t
like the side effects and found that concentrating on swimming helped
him out. He has won a total of 16 Olympic medals in swimming,
including 14 gold.
 Terry Bradshaw is another successful athlete with ADHD. As
quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he became the first
quarterback ever to win three Superbowls, and then the first to win
four! He is a football commentator and host.
 Ty Pennington loved woodworking when he was growing up. He used
to design fabulous structures and build them himself with the help of
the neighborhood kids. At 17, he was diagnosed with ADHD. He
worked his way through art school as a carpenter. Eventually he landed
a job as a carpenter on the TV show Trading Spaces, and then got his
own show as the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
ADD/ADHD
 James Carville could never sit still as a child. Nevertheless, he did well
in school because he was very smart. He was diagnosed with ADHD as
an adult. He served in the Marine Corps and got his law degree, finally
becoming a political consultant. In 1992 he was the chief strategist for
the election campaign of Bill Clinton. You can see him on network
news political shows and making cameo appearances in movies, most
recently in 2011’s The Muppets.
 Solange Knowles was an adult before anyone realized she had ADHD.
The singer and DJ (and younger sister of Beyonce) was so full of energy
that people often accused her of being on drugs, but she wasn’t. Two
different doctors diagnosed her with ADHD before she was willing to
believe it.
 Michelle Rodriguez has always had trouble focusing, particularly
when she is alone. She now realizes she has ADHD. You can see her on
the TV show Lost, and she is also a writer and director.
ADD/ADHD
 Jamie Oliver was diagnosed with ADHD when he was a child.
He currently manages his symptoms with a healthy diet. That
should be pretty easy for him, since he’s a world famous celebrity
chef.
 Justin Timberlake is one of many people with ADHD who also
have other disorders. In his case, in addition to his attention
issues, he has OCD. Timberlake got his start singing with on Star
Search and The New Mickey Mouse Club. He was the lead singer
for ‘N Sync and now has a successful solo career.
 Jim Carrey had such a hard time sitting still in school that his
teacher used to make him a deal: if he could sit still and not
interrupt, he could have time to entertain the class. Maybe that’s
where he honed his fabulous comedy skills, which you can
witness in his many movies.
Resources
 http://www.in-spite-of.org/
 http://www.learningrx.com/famous-people-with-
learning-disabilities.htm
 http://www.greatschools.org/specialeducation/health/696-famous-people-dyslexia-ld-orad-hd.gs
 http://www.disabledworld.com/artman/publish/article_0060.shtml