Billy Blanks, creator of Tae Bo

     “I was so uncoordinated that I literally could not walk and chew gum at the same time.”

John Irving, writer

“I could never have qualified for Exeter through normal admissions procedures; I was a weak student- as it turned out, I was dyslexic, but no one knew this at the time.”

Jay Leno, comedian

“The admissions officer (at Emerson) said I wasn’t what they wanted. But I sat outside his office 12 hours a day until he said he’d let me in if I went to summer school.”

Stephen J. Cannell, writer/producer of Wiseguy and The Commish

    “Since I was always the stupidest kid in the class, it never occurred to me to try to be perfect.  So I’ve always been happy as a writer just to entertain myself. That’s an easier place to start.”

Charles Schwab, entrepreneur

     “In my case, I knew I wasn't that smart, in English anyway. But I've always felt that...I could imagine things much faster than some other people... That helped me in solving complicated business problems. I could visualize how things would look at the end of the tunnel.”

Don Coryell, football Coach

“Dyslexia forced me to concentrate and think out problems.  It also helped me to use my imagination to visualize solutions in new and different ways.  I had to work harder, longer, and be more determined to succeed.”

Cyndi Lauper, singer

     “Being dyslexic, I had a great fear of writing and couldn't read fast or aloud well. I felt nervous and sounded like a dummy. With the computer, I can write treatments for my videos. I can make the print size big and correct the spelling and, because I can read it, I don't have fear.”

Guy Ritchie, director

“Well, I'm severely dyslexic, and I went to 15 schools in 15 years. And the reason for that was because I couldn't string a sentence together on paper. And the only reason I got into writing was because no-one would give me a short film to direct and I was gagging to do one. So I had to write one out.”

Tommy Hilfiger, designer

"I performed poorly at school, when I attended, that is, and was perceived as stupid because of my dyslexia. I still have trouble reading. I have to concentrate very hard at going left to right, left to right, otherwise my eye just wanders to the bottom of the page."