WNBA star A’ja Wilson overcame dyslexia through early intervention, support, and self-advocacy, becoming a champion for learning differences.
All her life A’ja Wilson has struggled with dyslexia, and she also struggled with anxiety and depression as a result of it. A’ja has not let these challenges stop her from achieving her goals and feels that they humanize her to people who look up to her. A’ja Wilson went to University of South Carolina (USC) where she played basketball before being the first pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Las Vegas Aces. She now plays as a center in the WNBA for the Aces and helped lead them to win back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 after not winning a championship in 21 years.
A’ja Wilson has now started her own candle business, Burnt Wax Candle Company, and the A’ja Wilson Foundation. Her mom works as the executive director for her foundation and the COO of the candle business. The A’ja Wilson Foundation was created to help students with learning disabilities so that they can get the help they need. A’ja Wilson received help during college at USC but wants to make sure that people who are not athletes at major schools also receive help for their learning disabilities. Her foundation will provide meals for children, help them learn trivia, go to a WNBA game, and help train teachers so that they can understand when children need to get tested for a learning disability and more.
Read more about A’ja Wilson here and here.
Image source: Flickr.
