Michiko Ozu

New York based visual artist and poet Michiko Ozu embraces her ADHD and Dyslexia. Although they present many challenges, they also make her poetry and artwork possible.

Ozu was born in Myanmar and came to America at age 6 where she first became interested in the arts. When she started school, her ADHD and dyslexia became more apparent, but she was not diagnosed until recently, as an adult. She had a lot of trouble paying attention in class and she got bored very easily. She could not understand things like most children. However, now she understands that people with ADHD and dyslexics learn best visually and by using a hands-on approach. 

She believes that "ADHD and Dyslexia are considered to be 'learning disabilities' by mainstream society when they are actually 'learning differences'." Her inspiration to create art and poetry comes from having ADHD and dyslexia. She thinks primarily in images and finds patterns and connections between unrelated things which helps with making new metaphors. Her brain is like a camera that’s recording everything in 360 degrees. She is able to manipulate objects in her brain easily, turn it around and see it at different angles. Her talents of thinking in 3-D is an advantage for her in drawing but she says it is difficult for reading because words are 2-D. Even with her struggles, she is thankful for her ADHD and Dyslexia. She says that she wouldn't be able to create her poetry art without them. Find out more about her and her art here: click here.