I would not use the term  "a warm myth", but I do agree that  
individuals with dyslexia span the same  span of general intelligence,  
motivation, diligence, talent, etc. as the general population.   Some  
are gifted in one area or another, just as those who are not  
dyslexic.  Some are of high intelligence, some are average...just like  
the rest the population!  There are gifted dyslexics, and gifted "non- 
dyslexics'.  Hugo is correct in that one is not determined to BE  
dyslexic unless they are of at least "average" intelligence.  In other  
words, low intelligence/ mental retardation is an exclusion  
( according to the present powers that be anyway).

There are many supposedly  "gifted " individuals who are  cited as  
examples to our students:  In addition to some that Tom mentions,  
Thomas Edison, Steven Spielberg, the mayor of San Francisco, the CEO  
of CISCO,  and some woud say George Bush ( Neil Bush for sure, as that  
apparently is why Barbara Bush took on literacy as her "first lady's  
cause" to champion).  One of the major news magazines cited "the  
Dyslexic CEO's" in a feature a few  years ago.  So it is true that   
dyslexics can achieve.... and some beyond what most of the rest of us  
"non-dyslexics" achieve.  In fact, back in the sixties, that seemed to  
be the "criteria" that underpinned the "discrepancy model"....ie,:  "  
It is obvious that this kid is too smart not to be able to read",  
therefore, he/she must be dyslexic!!!  "

That being said, I think we should cite these examples cautiously....  
as not ALL dyslexics are gifted!  They will not all be movie stars,  
inventors, CEO's, or movie producers any more than the average  
individual will be those things. The majority will plug along like the  
rest of us finding a place in society.  I often do say that "dyslexia  
is a weakness in a sea of strengths"..... so that my students will  
focus on their strengths and realize that because of their weakness  
they might need to work harder than others to achieve what they are  
motivated to achieve.  Perhaps the analogy is found in sports.... not  
everyone is capable of being a Tiger Woods... but anyone who wants   
can play golf.... and reasonably decently if they are willing to put  
in the time.  Does that mean Tiger Woods should not serve as a "role  
model"?  I seem to remember some years ago, that a court ruled that a  
disabled golfer, Casey Martin, should be allowed to use a golf cart  
( against the normal rules of professional golf) to compete in a Pro- 
Golf Tournament!  Of course, he otherwise had "all the right stuff" to  
be a pro-golfer!

I think golf is a good example because EVERY golfer has a HANDICAP  
that allows him/her a chance to win!  Cool!

Maureen Carro, MS, ET
Academic Learning Solutions
Alamo, CA
mcarro at lmi.net



On Nov 6, 2009, at 6:27 AM, HKerr at aol.com wrote:


> In a message dated 06/11/2009 13:56:44 GMT Standard Time, tsticht at znet.com 

>  writes:

> Is dyslexia a condition

> that renders one as disabled and entitled to special treatment in  

> education,

> or as a superior condition that enables one to stand as a role model  

> for

> others to strive to emulate

> In the UK dyslexia is legally included among disabilities for  

> educational purposes. So institutions are placed under an  

> obligation, by law, to consider, assess and remediate. There have  

> been successful cases brought against local authorities for  

> allegedly not fulfilling these requirements.

>

> As to 'dyslexics' being higher IQ, more hard-working, more skilled  

> spatially, and on and on, I'm afraid there seems no actual evidence  

> for any of this. It's probably a warm myth. My own view would be  

> that 'dyslexics' would be exactly as likely as the rest of the  

> population to be bright, beautiful, imbued with work ethic, good  

> with their hands or whatever else anyone might choose to measure.

>

> Of course, if the old discrepancy criterion is deployed (as it  

> mustn't) then all 'dyslexics' will turn out to be average or better  

> IQ - that's what the definition demands!

>

> Hugo

>

> at: http://www.hugokerr.info

>

> "We're here to help each other get through this thing - whatever it  

> might be." (Kurt Vonnegut)

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