ABSTRACT
If you Google ‘famous dyslexics’, the lists of names that pop up contain a high proportion of people from the creative industries, including artists, writers, film-makers, musicians and actors. While some of the frequently occurring names such as Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, Albert Einstein and John Lennon are open to challenge, there are famous individuals such as Steven Spielberg, Nigel Kennedy and Jamie Oliver who have confirmed diagnoses of dyslexia. The linking of dyslexia with being creative is international: the Indian film ‘Stars upon the Ground’ features the story of a dyslexic child who is treated badly at home and school because of his dyslexia, but then goes on to succeed after his artistic talents are recognised by his art teacher.
