Are Kids With Dyslexia Lazy?

Myth: The child with dyslexia is lazy, stupid, obstinate, and has an attitude problem.

Reality: Dyslexia is known as a hidden disability because there are no outwardly visible signs.  The child looks like any other child.

Parents and teachers feel that the child is lazy or obstinate because he or she does not perform well academically. They are not able to keep up with their peers in class. The reason children with dyslexia are not able to do what is expected of them is because they need extra remedial support like a resource room in a school and/or the services of a special educator. They also need appropriate and effective learning and teaching strategies to help them overcome their academic deficits.

Recent research related to the theory of Multiple Intelligences, a concept developed by Howard Gardner, has shown that children with dyslexia have strong visual and spatial skills (the ability to be aware of objects in relation to one another and oneself in space). 

Dyslexic students are also believed to be high on artistic ability and creativity. Dyslexics can excel in the fields of computers, arts, architecture and design. Remember Ishaan Awasthi, the kid from the movie Taare Zameen Par ? His parents and all the teachers believe that he is good for nothing but he ends up winning the school painting competition. Ishaan struggles in his regular classes and is constantly made fun of by teachers and students.  Yet he is able to make a floating boat with some twigs, leaves and some odd bits of material he has collected.

 It is very much possible that your dyslexic child can dazzle us with similar artistic and creative brilliance as demonstrated by the young Ishaan.

It is sad that many kids with dyslexia can end up living their entire lives being told they are stupid and good for nothing.  Its too big a price to pay for no fault of theirs.

Further Reading:

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/Strengths.html