Dublin People recently ran an article highlighting the common ignorance about dyslexia.  The article stated, "Nearly half of people surveyed in Dublin did not identify dyslexia as a disability according to research due to be published by the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD).  The data was revealed at a conference on dyslexia that took place in NUI Maynooth last week where international speakers addressed the issue of dyslexia in mainstream education."  Find the complete article at http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/1221/55/

This line of thinking is not limited to Dublin.  In fact I believe that this sort of ignorance about dyslexia is even more prevelant in the USA.  The irony is that while people still believe that dyslexia is a sign of lower intellegence, many of historys greatest thinkers, inventors, businessmen, and politians have been dyslexic.

The bottom line is that we simply have much more educating to do regarding the nature of dyslexia.

On October 30^th 2008 the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, California ruled that dyslexic medical students taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAD) do not qualify to receive reasonable accommodations for their disability.

The entire ruling can be found at: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A117071.PDF

This is, of course a step back in the area of discrimination for dyslexics.  Based on the language of the ruling I believe that the three panel court does not adequately understand the nature of dyslexia.

One point that I find interesting is the concept of “equal access.”  Clearly if a medical student was denied access to the MCAD because he or she could not physically get to the testing location (i.e. having a disability requiring an elevator instead of walking up stairs) this would be a violation.  However the access required for the dyslexic is non-physical (i.e. more time needed to take a test or write an essay).

Perhaps if the court understood the nature of dyslexia they would realize that providing someone who is unable to climb stares with an elevator and providing someone who is unable to quickly process phonemes more time for testing are both providing “equal access.”

"Dyslexics often have average or above average intelligence" is a quote from a recent article in The Barbados Advocate.  To read the full article go to: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=lifestyle&NewsID=127

"Individuals with dyslexia have average or above average intelligence, yet may have poor academic achievement. They might be labelled lazy, dumb, and careless and as a result, may start to see themselves as being that way. Some dyslexics may show a dislike of reading and as a consequence may compensate by developing interpersonal expertise, verbal communication and leadership skills."

This is why dyslexia is a blessing.  This is why many of this worlds greatest inventors and leaders have been dyslexic!