A few weeks ago we had a one week series titled: “Celebrating Dyslexia.” Originally it was only going to be a one week series, but today I decided I don’t want to stop “celebrating dyslexia” thus as I discover more impressive stories of dyslexics the series will continue.

"It's unfair because often people who have disabilities - visual or hearing or wherever it is - they can very often excel in other things and it's a matter of finding those things,” said actor Charley Boorman when discussing his dyslexia in a recent interview with BBC News.

Watching his video interview with BBC News, you would never believe charismatic, confident Charley Boorman remembers his early teachers making statements such as: “you’re thick and you’ll not amount to much.”

The most impressive quality about Boorman is the fact that he grew up with teachers taking jabs at his self-esteem, and he didn’t let those comments determine his potential.

I think that too often dyslexics decide that reading skills are the only ability that matters. It is undoubtedly a valuable skill, and one that they can improve; however, dyslexics can greatly improve their self esteem by focusing on their many strengths.

From the interview I got the impression that Boorman always knew he had strengths. He discussed that he spent a lot of time defending his abilities to his teachers. His words did not include the word “defending,” however I think it captures what he was doing. 

"At the time when I was going to school in Ireland people didn't really have a clue about what it was, so I had to spend a lot of my time trying to explain to teachers what dyslexia meant."

Why did he want his teachers to know what dyslexia meant? I think it’s because he saw his own self worth. He knew exactly why he struggled in school. He knew he wasn’t stupid or incapable and he wanted his teachers to understand that. In his own words: "That was the kind of battle I had. I knew what I had, but my teachers didn't."

That is why he has become a success: despite opposition, he has confidence in his own abilities. He acknowledges that he had a difficult time in school; he acknowledges that reading is difficult for him. But he also acknowledges that he has many strengths.

Maybe his teachers didn’t see those strengths when he was a child, but by continuously focusing on those strengths he has become living proof to his teachers that he does have self-worth and valuable abilities.

The full article and a video clip of the interview can be found on BBC News: “Charley Boorman on a Childhood Spent with Dyslexia”

Free Dyslexia Webinar: “Dyslexia: From Symptoms to Solutions,” presented by Reading Horizons Dyslexia Specialist, Shantell Berrett.

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