We know that getting a diagnosis of dyslexia or learning disability can be scary, particularly early on when you don’t yet know what it all means. We hope these stories may help alleviate some of your angst and give you hope. We are not saying that it will come without hard work—but, it will come. Success starts here!
If you'd like to share your success story with others, please email us at dyslexiahelp@umich.edu.
Featured Success Story
Shaun Sanders
This was written by a very ambitious, intelligent, and confident dyslexic law student named Shaun Sanders, who got in touch with us via Reddit and offered to share his remarkable story.
Read Shaun Sanders's story
Elementary School—Benjamin
After Benjamin came to our Center for therapy, he learned to better manage his dyslexia by writing stories and reading to his little sister.
Read Benjamin's story
Middle School—Alison
Though this student has dyslexia, she is an avid reader, an outstanding verbal communicator, and a highly creative thinker.
Read Alison's story
Middle School—Sarah
This dyslexic young girl has a flair for theater, singing, and helping others, and believes "if you’re dyslexic, you have a gift. You just have to find it."
Read Sarah's story
High School—Anonymous
The following was written by a very ambitious, highly motivated individual who wishes to remain anonymous.
Read this story
High School—Hannah
This straight-A student and former client at our Center did not let dyslexia stand in the way of her educational goals.
Read Hannah's story
College—Carrie
Despite not receiving help until her high school years, one of our former clients at our Center fought through her struggles in school because of her dyslexia.
Read Carrie's story
College—Chris
One of our former clients at the Center learned the value of work ethic due to his dyslexia.
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College—Melissa
Melissa has always loved science, attending NASA’s Space Camp and Pilot Camp, but when it came to reading the textbooks, she struggled.
Read Melissa's story
College—Michelle
Despite having struggled with a learning disability all of her life, Michelle was able to succeed in school with the help of supportive parents and tutors.
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Adult—Dyslexic Tutor
This story was submitted to us by a dyslexic teacher/tutor of dyslexic children.
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Adult—Marta
A young woman discusses her dyslexia and how it has not stopped her from writing.
Read Marta's story
CEOs with Dyslexia
Did you know that many of the world’s most successful CEOs turned their learning disabilities into learning opportunities?
Read and watch these CEOs's stories
Famous Authors with Dyslexia
These famous authors all battled dyslexia but went on to create some of the world's best literary works.
Read these authors's stories
Ansel Adams
Imagine you were asked to leave schools because you were dyslexic. That’s what Ansel Adams went through when he was young.
Read Ansel Adams's story
Malcolm Alexander
This renowned sculptor encourages fellow dyslexics to "find their gift and persevere."
Read Malcolm Alexander's story
Muhammad Ali
This successful boxer developed a reading program inspired by his struggles with dyslexia.
Read Muhammad Ali's story
David Arquette
This Dancing with the Stars performer and acclaimed actor used to fear public speaking due to dyslexia—but not anymore!
Read David Arquette's story
Marilyn Bartlett
It took Dr. Marilyn Bartlett until adulthood to realize she had a learning disability.
Read Marilyn Bartlett's story
Alice Beard
A now successful author from Kalamazoo, Michigan reflects on her struggles in school and how she overcame them.
Read Alice Beard's story
Michael Bennet
Despite all his success as a senator from Colorado, Michael Bennet failed the second grade.
Read Michael Bennet's story
Billy Blanks
The famed Taebo expert discovered his dyslexia late in life, but is still a successful body-shaping sensation.
Read Billy Blanks's story
Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom talks with Access Hollywood about his dyslexia and how it affected his education and his acting career.
Read Orlando Bloom's story
David Boies
David Boies has been involved in many high-profile lawsuits in the United States, but he struggles with reading and has a very limited vocabulary. How is he a successful lawyer with those struggles?
Read David Boies's story
Jeremy Bonderman
Jeremy Bonderman’s Major League Baseball career almost didn’t exist because of his dyslexia.
Read Jeremy Bonderman's story
Richard Branson
What is Branson’s secret to success? Dyslexia. What many people may consider to be a weakness, Branson considers his greatest strength.
Read Richard Branson's story
Sonya Bridges
Former teacher Sonya Bridges is using the lessons she learned from battling with her own dyslexia to help fight against the illiteracy that plagues society today.
Read Sonya Bridges's story
Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich overcame dyslexia to become the lawyer who won a $333 million class-action lawsuit—the largest of its kind in U.S. history.
Read Erin Brockovich's story
Anna Brown
This story of success was submitted to us by Joshua Brown and was written by Anna's mother, Sarah J. Brown.
Read Anna Brown's story
Gaston Caperton
Gaston Caperton was elected as governor of West Virginia and served from 1989 until 1997. During his two terms, he emphasized that education was his first priority.
Read Gaston Caperton's story
John Chambers
It took a couple of large setbacks for John Chambers to realize that he could overcome anything.
Read John Chambers's story
Blake Charlton
Blake Charlton learned to cope with his dyslexia by making fun of himself.
Read Blake Charlton's story
Cher
It may be hard to believe that one of the most famous entertainers ever was a high school dropout.
Read Cher's story
Chuck Close
The famous photorealist painter had to overcome many hardships in his life, but not without learning the value of perseverance.
Read Chuck Close's story
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper is a well-known journalist and TV personality on CNN, but he struggled with dyslexia at a young age.
Read Anderson Cooper's story
Collin Corkum
A 95-year-old former teacher talks about how he continues to help dyslexics succeed.
Read Collin Corkum's story
Toby Cosgrove
Both a CEO and a doctor, Dr. Toby Cosgrove presides over the prestigious Cleveland Clinic and was once a cardiac surgeon. However, he struggled mightily in college because of his dyslexia.
Read Toby Cosgrove's story
Rebekah Cox
The designer and developer of Quora battled dyslexia, but overcame it when she discovered her love for programming.
Read Rebekah Cox's story
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise felt held back by his dyslexia, but hard work and determination led him to become an extremely successful actor.
Read Tom Cruise's story
Ron Davis
This successful engineer discusses how his struggles with dyslexia allowed him to notice his creativity.
Read Ron Davis's story
Patrick Dempsey
Though "Dr. McDreamy" has had a successful on-screen career in the TV series Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey’s childhood wasn’t nearly as easy.
Read Patrick Dempsey's story
Tom Dickson
The man behind the development of the Will it Blend? video series and some of the world's most powerful home blenders reveals that he battles dyslexia.
Read Tom Dickson's story
Richard Engel
Engel's dyslexia helped him realize his passion for being thrown into alien environments and learning to survive.
Read Richard Engel's story
Fred Epstein
Despite struggling with learning disabilities, Fred Epstein became one of the most innovative neurosurgeons in the pediatric field.
Read Fred Epstein's story
Paul Fisher
This whiz of a computer programmer and CEO of Buyometric found success in spite of dyscalculia.
Read Paul Fisher's story
Fannie Flagg
Ever since she was six years old, Fannie Flagg had wanted to be a writer, but her dyslexia delayed that career.
Read Fannie Flagg's story
Ben Foss
The invention of the Intel Reader was inspired by its creator's dyslexia.
Read Ben Foss's story
Nina G.
Usually, it's not polite to laugh at someone with a learning disability. But in the case of Nina G., she wants you to laugh.
Read Nina G.'s story
GabyGaby
Dutch multimedia artist GabyGaby shares his all-positive attitude about his dyslexia.
Read GabyGaby's story
Danny Glover
With all of the lines he has to memorize and deliver as a famous actor, no one would suspect that a guidance counselor once described Danny Glover as retarded in school.
Read Danny Glover's story
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg talks career, education, and dyslexia.
Read Whoopi Goldberg's story
Frank Gore
This San Francisco 49ers running back has struggled with dyslexia, but has still gone on to become a professional football player.
Read Frank Gore's story
Alex Green
This Green Bay Packers player discovered he was dyslexic through exploring his talents on the football field.
Read Alex Green's story
Carol Greider
For a woman who has made a breakthrough in DNA and cancer research and won a Nobel Prize, it’s hard to imagine that she was barely accepted to graduate school.
Read Carol Greider's story
Glenn Harrington
Glenn Harrington achieved something he never imagined he would in high school—he is a published author.
Read Glenn Harrington's story
Lillian Harris
Nine-year-old Lillian Harris used to approach speaking aloud in school with alarm and dread, but upon learning she has dyslexia, her confidence in school has grown dramatically.
Read Lillian Harris' story
Jovan Haye
Jovan Haye overcame dyslexia (and several other obstacles) to become a professional athlete.
Read Jovan Haye's story
Salma Hayek
Learning a second language isn’t an easy task, but for Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek, it wasn’t impossible, even with her learning disability.
Read Salma Hayek's story
Tommy Hilfiger
This renowned fashion designer's dyslexia was actually a contributing factor to his success.
Read Tommy Hilfiger's story
Anthony Hopkins
How was Anthony Hopkins able to win an Oscar, two Emmys, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement? He credits his dyslexia for his interest in acting.
Read Anthony Hopkins's story
Jack Horner
Despite his dyslexia causing him to fail out of college several times, Jack Horner still went on to win a MacArthur Fellowship for his contributions to the field of science.
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John Irving
This renowned author notes that his dyslexia is an advantage in his writing career.
Read John Irving's story
Emma Jefferies
Creative thinker Emma Jefferies has caught our attention with her buzzworthy set of videos about living with dyslexia.
Read Emma Jefferies's story
Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic Gold Medal Decathlon champion, says he believes his dyslexia is the reason he won the Games.
Read Bruce Jenner's story
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson may be most famous for his project in public awareness to help combat HIV. But there was another disability Johnson struggled with in his youth — dyslexia.
Read Magic Johnson's story
Dean Kamen
Not many people know who invented the Segway, the futuristic-looking individual transportation vehicle, but now you do.
Read Dean Kamen's story
Rebecca Kamen
This dyslexic woman, fascinated by dyslexia, used her artistic abilities to create sculptures that represent brain cells.
Read Rebecca Kamen's story
Ingvar Kamprad
Ever wonder how IKEA came up with unique Swedish names for all of its furniture? It was from its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, who is dyslexic.
Read Ingvar Kamprad's story
Keira Knightley
Did you know actress Keira Knightley originally got into acting because of her learning disability?
Read Keira Knightley's story
Chris Koehl
Former So You Think You Can Dance participant Chris Koehl opens up about his learning disability.
Read Chris Koehl's story
Quinn Lathrop
Quinn Lathrop is an amazing 11-year-old who embraces his dyslexia as a gift and is passionate about educating the world about his gift.
Read Quinn Lathrop's story
John Lennon
John Lennon's beautiful music with the Beatles would not have existed without his perseverance through dyslexia.
Read John Lennon's story
Jay Leno
Comedian and former host of The Tonight Show Jay Leno believes that hard work, perseverance, humor, and a positive attitude have been the driving factors for his success in show business and overcoming dyslexia.
Read Jay Leno's story
Jillian Levy
Many scholars studying dyslexia have gone through extensive schooling to become experts in the field, but for one member of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), it was her experience that taught her what she knows.
Read Jillian Levy's story
Greg Louganis
Even one of the world’s greatest divers ever has overcome some setbacks.
Read Greg Louganis's story
Skye Lucas
With a multi-sensory approach to teaching, Lucas was able to return to traditional school feeling much more confident and focused.
Read Skye Lucas's story
Alex Malchow
This father-son duo have written a bestselling story about having the courage to overcome hardship—and it was all inspired by a learning disability.
Read Alex Malchow's story
Dannel Malloy
This famous politician did not let his school struggles or his dyslexia slow him down.
Read Dannel Malloy's story
Will Marsh
Will Marsh discovered that he was dyslexic in the third grade and decided shortly after that he wanted to make a difference in the lives of others living with dyslexia.
Read Will Marsh's story
Keely McCabe
This young dyslexic is now a published author.
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Eric McGehearty
As a 10-year-old, McGehearty became inspired by a summer art class and learned that he shouldn’t let his dyslexia stand in the way of becoming a success.
Read Eric McGehearty's story
Jacob Meders
One thing that didn’t stop artist Jacob Meders from living his dream was his dyslexia.
Read Jacob Meders's story
Brian Meersma
Through his hard work exploring assistive technology and helping others, seventeen-year-old Brian Meersma embodies the term self-advocacy.
Read Brian Meersma's story
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano has had her share of success, despite being dyslexic.
Read Alyssa Milano's story
Jonathan Mooney
Despite his early struggles, this dyslexic writer went on to graduate from Brown University, where he received an honors degree in English Literature.
Read Jonathan Mooney's story
Steven Naismith
This star soccer player learned the true meaning of hard work, thanks to his dyslexia.
Read Steven Naismith's story
Adam Norris
In order to offer assistance to dyslexic entrepreneurs, Norris set up his own company, Horatio Investments, which has $172 million to invest in start-up companies run by those with dyslexia.
Read Adam Norris's story
James Nuttall
This man earned his PhD, worked with the Michigan Department of Education, and co-authored a book, all despite having dyslexia.
Read James Nuttall's story
Dominic O'Brien
Even with dyslexia, Dominic O’Brien has matched his memory against the greatest memory experts in the world and has come out victorious many times.
Read Dominic O'Brien's story
Aakash Odedra
Odedra, despite his weaknesses with written language, found his strength in the communicative power of dance.
Read Aakash Odedra's story
Dav Pilkey
"Try to remember that being unsuccessful in school doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be unsuccessful in life. Lots of people who didn’t excel in school still went on to have successful lives."
Read Dav Pilkey's story
Patricia Polacco
Dyslexic author/illustrator and Michigan native Patricia Polacco talks about her work.
Read Patricia Polacco's story
Robert Rauschenberg
Robert Rauschenberg’s dyslexia helped him create art—art that uses words.
Read Robert Rauschenberg's story
Robin Richardson
This poet overcame dyslexia to pursue her greatest passion: writing.
Read Robin Richardson's story
Rex Ryan
The New York Jets coach embraces his dyslexia and encourages fellow dyslexics to do the same.
Read Rex Ryan's story
Lauren Santaniello
This dyslexic college student has published her first novel—and more are to come.
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Mark Schlereth
Not being able to read until he was in middle school didn’t stop Mark Schlereth from becoming a successful NFL player.
Read Mark Schlereth's story
Philip Schultz
This Pulitzer Prize winning poet overcame dyslexia by inventing a new way to read.
Read Philip Schultz's story
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab, the 67th richest man in America and one of the world’s most influential and esteemed businessmen, credits his success to his dyslexia.
Read Charles Schwab's story
Steven Spielberg
One of the world's most famous directors has struggled with dyslexia all his life. Yet, he still went on to create some of film's best masterpieces.
Read Steven Spielberg's story
Gris Suarez
This artistic woman's success story was written by Major Chris Heatherly of the United States Army.
Read Gris Suarez's story
Tiffany Sunday
The following was written by Tiffany Sunday, a published author and dyslexic individual who reached out to us in June of 2014, eager to share her story.
Read Tiffany Sunday's story
Tim Tebow
The former Denver Broncos quarterback gives talks about his dyslexia and reads "Green Eggs and Ham" aloud.
Read Tim Tebow's story
Bella Thorne
Hear a young actress discuss her character's—as well as her own—life with dyslexia.
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Karen Tillery
Karen Tillery never understood why reading caused painful headaches, teachers’ lectures were garbled, and new concepts were a struggle to understand.
Read Karen Tillery's story
Vince Vaughn
For Vince Vaughn, making people laugh has never been hard. But not all things in life have come easy for the famous funnyman.
Read Vince Vaughn's story
Princess Victoria
Swedish Crown Princess Victoria was bullied because of her struggles with reading and writing. She now speaks up for dyslexic children.
Read Princess Victoria's story
Steve Walker
After doing poorly in school, Steve Walker grew up to be a founder and CEO of his own company.
Read Steve Walker's story
Florence Welch
Successful musician Florence Welch found her passion in singing, in part, because of her dyslexia.
Read Florence Welch's story
Yeoh Shu Wen Cassandra
This bright young dyslexic went from school struggles to straight A's.
Read Yeoh Shu Wen Cassandra's story
Chef Marco Pierre White
A kitchen guru, this chef and former mentor to Gordon Ramsay discusses his experience with dyslexia.
Read Chef Marco Pierre White's story
Justin Wilson
IndyCar driver Justin Wilson is no stranger to hard work and perseverance.
Read Justin Wilson's story
Woodrow Wilson
Imagine that you didn't learn to read until you were twelve—and yet you went on to become the President of the United States.
Read Woodrow Wilson's story
Henry Winkler
Read about how the man who played The Fonz co-wrote 17 children's books inspired by his own struggles with dyslexia.
Read Henry Winkler's story
Joe Wright
Joe Wright went from being called "stupid" in school to directing movies based on some of the most complex literature in the world.
Read Joe Wright's story
Jim Carrey
Today, Jim Carrey has an extremely successful stand-up comedy and film career, but he didn’t have an easy time making his way to the top.
Read Jim Carrey's story
Steve Jobs
The late founder of the Apple Company shares his wisdom on how to achieve success in life.
Read Steve Jobs's story
Gary Karton
Gary Karton used to think of his learning disability as a form of torture, but not anymore.
Read Gary Karton's story
Andrew Lewis
Andrew Lewis wrote a musical composition about dyslexia for the 2013 Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music.
Read Andrew Lewis's story
J.K. Rowling
While not dyslexic herself, the famous author has been giving substantial gifts to Dyslexia Action for several years.
Read J.K. Rowling's story
Success Stories