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Some of the biggest names in movies, music, and sports are people who struggled in school with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. A number of celebrities found their passions and strengths because of their learning and thinking differences.

Octavia Spencer (dyslexia)

Steven Spielberg (dyslexia)

Legendary film director Steven Spielberg wasn't diagnosed with dyslexia until he was in his 60s. School administrators thought he was lazy. He was bullied by classmates, and his troubles in school played a part in his career. Not only did making movies give him a place to channel his energies, but feeling like an outsider helped him co-write The Goonies, a hit movie about a quirky group of friends who didn't quite fit in at school. He said finding out as an adult that he has dyslexia was like "the last puzzle piece to a great mystery that I've kept to myself."

Singer Solange Knowles didn't believe that ADHD was real. So, after getting diagnosed with ADHD, she went to another doctor for a second opinion. "I didn't believe the first doctor who told me and I had a whole theory that ADHD was just something they invented to make you pay for medicine, but then the second doctor told me I had it." She recognizes that a lot of people in the music industry tend to have symptoms of ADHD that she experiences, too - like starting a project and not finishing it.

Justin Timberlake is many things. He's a singer-songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur. He's also one of the many adults - and musicians - in the United States who have ADHD. Early in his career, Timberlake co-starred on Disney's All New Mickey Mouse Club with Ryan Gosling, who as a child was diagnosed with ADHD and was bullied before he became a Mouseketeer and movie star.

Actor Ryan Gosling has ADHD and trouble reading. Growing up, he struggled and was bullied because of his challenges. His mom eventually decided to homeschool him and encouraged him to explore his passions - performing and acting. He's now a celebrated actor who's starred in movies like The Notebook and La La Land.

Cher (dyslexia and dyscalculia)

Academy Award‒winning actress and Grammy-winning singer Cher struggled in school with undiagnosed learning differences. "I couldn't read quickly enough to get all my homework done and for me, math was like trying to understand Sanskrit," she wrote in her autobiography The First Time. "The only way I learned was by listening to the teachers in my classroom." She didn't find out about her dyslexia until years later when her child got evaluated.

The Daily Show host Trevor Noah opened up in a 60 Minutes interview about how ADHD has affected his life. "I think over the years, what I've come to learn, thanks to some great therapists, is my depression is created by a severe level of ADHD," he said. Noah's ADHD made it hard for him to manage daily routines, and it made him feel like he wasn't cut out for the world. With added skills and understanding, he was able to thrive alongside these challenges.

Whoopi Goldberg (dyslexia)

Long ago, before Whoopi Goldberg was diagnosed with dyslexia and before she knew how common this learning difference is, kids in school called her "dumb." But her mother told her not to listen to them. Her mom told her she could be anything she wanted to be. Goldberg believed her and grew up to become a comedian and talk-show host - and one of only about a dozen people to have won a Grammy, an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a Tony Award. She says that thinking differently has been a factor in helping her succeed.

Swimmer Michael Phelps holds the record for winning the most Olympic medals. He has ADHD and was hyperactive as a child. "I was always the kid who was running around," he said. "I literally couldn't sit still." His mother used his love of swimming to help him focus.

Henry Winkler is an actor, director, and author who has dyslexia and difficulty with math. On Happy Days, he played "The Fonz," a role so iconic that his character's jacket now hangs in the Smithsonian. But a new generation of fans may know him better for his roles in Arrested Development and Barry, and for co-authoring the best-selling Hank Zipzer children's series. Like Winkler, Hank struggles with learning differences but doesn't let them get in the way of his dreams. Winkler also visits schools to talk about learning differences. To honor his educational work, the Queen of England made him an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2011.

Anderson Cooper (dyslexia)

CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper has dyslexia. He's also an author with a deep love for books and literature. His own book, Dispatches From the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival, was on the New York Times best-seller list.

Award-winning TV journalist Lisa Ling struggled in school from the time she was a child all the way through college. She eventually dropped out of college, went on to become a producer, special correspondent and, eventually, an investigative journalist with her own show. While reporting on ADHD, she discovered that her own struggles are because she, too, has ADHD. It was a relief and allowed her to look at herself in a new way. "In a strange way I do feel like it has helped me. I can hyperfocus on things that I am excited and passionate about," she has said.

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Celebrities With Dyslexia, ADHD, and Dyscalculia

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From Justin Timberlake to Whoopi Goldberg, many celebrities learn and think differently. Read about famous people with dyslexia, ADHD, and other challenges.

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Did you know these 9 famous people are dyslexic?

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Dyslexia is a learning difference which primarily affects reading and writing skills.

However it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is all about how you process information.

Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning.

And when we're almost all stuck at home studying, that can cause huge challenges if not managed in the right way.

"It must be quite overwhelming"

Mollie King is an ambassador for the British Dyslexia Association. She was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was in primary school.

"I was about 9 years old when I got the diagnosis," she says. "Suddenly everything made sense... I now understood why I found my reading so hard compared to my classmates.

"I found homework so hard because I learned through having a conversation and having a teacher talk to me about something."

When you're working at home on your own and not having conversations with friends and teachers that can make learning really tough. And if you have dyslexia, with virtual deadlines, it can be even tougher.

"It must be so overwhelming at points... If someone said to me you've got to read this quicker now all that's going to do is make me read more words in the wrong order... I'm best when I'm most relaxed and have time to process things."

And that's the key to getting a grasp of your dyslexia. Time to process.

Top tips for managing your dyslexia:

Setting the scene - make sure you're in a quiet place and minimise your distractions.

Take a brain break - take time out to help process information into bite size chunks... BUT don't watch TV!

Keep a learning journal - like a scrapbook it will help you keep track of what you've learnt.

Mollie and Donna from the British Dyslexia Association have shared their insights into how best you can handle your dyslexia in lockdown and help you form strategies that will have a positive effect on your learning, whether you are remote-learning or in the classroom.

Dyslexia can be your superpower

Mollie, who's a member of the girl group 'The Saturdays', and now a Radio 1 presenter, says her dyslexia has never held her back - and she's not met anyone who's dyslexic that hasn't had the "fire in their belly" to work hard.

Dyslexia is definitely not something to hold you back, and in some ways can actually be a superpower

She says being dyslexic has only meant she, like many others, have just had to work that bit harder.

Whilst recognising that learning in lockdown must be incredibly challenging if you have a learning difference like dyslexia, identifying and understanding how to manage it can actually make you better equipped to deal with difficult circumstances, like home learning.

And with that determination to succeed it can be your superpower.
How have you been handling your dyslexia in lockdown? Do you have any tips for what's worked for you? Let us know.

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Mollie King on dyslexia: In some ways it's your superpower - CBBC Newsround

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Dyslexia is a learning difference which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is all about how you process information. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning.

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ADHD and What I Would Tell #MyYoungerSelf | Michael Phelps

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Climate activist Greta Thunberg on why being on the spectrum is her “superpower”

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Disability in Sport ft. Ade Adepitan | Voice Box | Childline

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Some children with dyslexic difficulties or visual difficulties may find the glare of a screen too bright, or may find text easier to read with a coloured tint. ColorVeil adds a customizable colour filter over your Desktop, Internet browser, etc. – it changes the colour of the whole screen.

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ColorVeil: Reduce eye strain, help with Dyslexia and Visual Stress

A screen color filter over any application you are using

Helps users with Dyslexia and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome

Reduce eye strain along with screen brightness

Easily customize the color and opacity of the filter

Match the prescription from the optometrist

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Dim screen brightness, reduce eye strain, and save energy. It helps with eye strain, Dyslexia, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, or Visual Stress.

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A number of games to help strengthen your memory in different ways

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PLAY NOW

Why MentalUP Memory Games?

MentalUP used trustfully by schools and thousands of families, helps memory matching improvement and learning ability of children and contributes to their success at school.

There are over 150+ online exercises for free! Let's test, train and improve your mind:

MentalUP is a participant of the University College London Institute of Education EDUCATE Program.

Trusted by World Leading Communities

We recommend the MentalUP which is developed by academicians and pedagogues and is filled with educational brain teasers.

MentalUP Educational Games will enable your child to use technology in a beneficial way.

MentalUP is an online innovative games resources for teachers and parents.

MentalUP does brain training well. Its games are easy to understand while challenging the skills which they are designed to stretch.

MentalUP is a UK-based award-winning scientific-educational application containing cognitive learning games for K-8 learners.

MentalUP developed by game designers and academics incorporating innovative teaching methods to offer dozens of mind games.

CONTENTS OF THE MEMORY IMPROVEMENT GAMES

ONLINE VISUAL MEMORY AND AUDITORY MEMORY GAMES.

FREE & FUN EXERCISES IMPROVING SHORT-TERM AND LONG TERM MEMORY.

EFFICIENT MEMORY IMPROVING TECHNIQUES.

BENEFITS OF MENTALUP

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SUCCESS AT SCHOOL AND DURING EXAMS

Try MentalUP Memory Training Games and Improve Your Skills!

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Memory Games for Kids Online & Free | MentalUP

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You can boost your skills with MentalUP's memory games for kids online, memory card games, memory match games, memory board games, working memory games.

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Support for learning difficulties may be required for children who learn at a slower pace than their peers, even with appropriate differentiation. Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD), affect one or more specific aspects of learning. This encompasses a range of conditions such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.
This also includes dyspraxia (see physical and sensory section)

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The Dyslexia Association provides advice and assistance to families to raise awareness of the condition within the wider community.

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What is Dyslexia? - The Dyslexia Association

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Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed. Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities. It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off points. Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language, motor coordination, mental calculation, concentration and personal organisation, but these are not, by themselves, markers of dyslexia. A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexic difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual responds or has responded to well-founded intervention.

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Advice and support

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Dyscalculia is a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers which can lead to a diverse range of difficulties with mathematics. It will be unexpected in relation to age, level of education and experience and occurs across all ages and abilities.

Mathematics difficulties are best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and they have many causal factors. Dyscalculia falls at one end of the spectrum and will be distinguishable from other maths issues due to the severity of difficulties with number sense, including subitising, symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparison, and ordering. It can occur singly but often co-occurs with other specific learning difficulties, mathematics anxiety and medical conditions.

(BDA Definition)

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Dyscalculia - British Dyslexia Association

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What is Dyscalculia? Dyscalculia is a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers which can lead to a diverse range of difficulties with...

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Specific Learning Difficulties including dyslexia, spelling and memory

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Video outlining key features and strategies

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Dyslexia Awareness Part 1: Module 1 - About Dyslexia

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Support and advice

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This website places cookies on your computer to improve your experience. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more details, see our privacy policy. I agree

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The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic

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Children may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in many ways. These may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment disorder.

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Supporting Social and Emotional Learning

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Resources for Emotional Literacy Support Assistants - ELSA Support

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Emotional literacy support assistants - or ELSAs - are teaching assistants trained to provide emotional and social skills support to children.

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Parent tips for talking about mental health

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Parent tips for talking about mental health

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Anna Freud Centre

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Suitable for Upper Key Stage 2 pupils

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Top tips, expert advice and fun activities to help you support your child's wellbeing and learning in a changing world. Parents, we've got you.

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Top tips, expert advice and fun activities to help you support your child's wellbeing and learning in a changing world. Parents, we've got you.

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World leading mental health charity for children

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We work with professionals to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Learn about our training, services, research and more.

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Children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have difficulty in communicating with others. This can include saying what they want to, understanding what is being said to them or they do not understand or use social rules of communication.

This area also includes children and young people with ASD, including Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism.

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A children’s communication charity

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Develop your typing skills

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Learn how to touch type with the BBC Dance Mat Typing game. It’s a fun introduction to touch typing game for kids and covers levels 1, 2, 3, 4.

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NHS Bury Paediatric Occupational Therapy services

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NHS Bury Paediatric Occupational Therapy services

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We work with children to increase their independence and ability to take part in daily activites at home, school or nursery.

These activities include self-care (e.g. getting dressed), play and leisure and productivity.

We also support parents and carers to better understand their child's needs and with school and nursery staff, so they can appropriately support the child.

We aim to provide a local services that meets the needs of children and families in Bury.

We are a community-based team and provide care and support in all mainstream schools, special schools, nurseries and in the home, depending on the child's needs.

A child's first assessment will usually take place at the Bury Living Well Centre.

Following the assessment, we can develop a package of care that meets the child's needs and helps them to reach their full potential.

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Bury Children's occupational therapy service

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We work with children to increase their independence and ability to take part in daily activites at home, school or nursery. These activities include self-care (e.g. getting dressed), play and leisure and productivity. We also support parents and carers to better understand their child's needs and with school and nursery staff, so they can appropriately support the child.

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NHS Bury Paediatric Physiotherapy services

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NHS Bury Paediatric Physiotherapy services

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The paediatric physiotherapy team provides assessment, treatment and support to children and young people who have musculoskeletal, neurological or developmental conditions.

We provide assessments and treatment at Bury Living Well Centre and a number of local schools, nurseries and homes.

We accept referrals for children up to the age of 16 years, who are registered with a GP in Bury. This support is available up to 19 yours old for children attending Elmsbank Special School.

More about our paediatric physiotherapists

Our physiotherapists have additional specialist knowledge and clinical skills to enable safe and effective assessment and treatment of babies, children and young people.

We treat a wide range of conditions including developmental delay, neurological, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal in differing environments. We use a variety of treatment techniques such as exercise therapy and hydrotherapy.

We work with the child, parent's, carers and a wide range of other professionals to maximise a child's physical abilities and independence.

For children and young people with special educational needs and disability we are involved in education, health and care assessments, which are based around the child and young person's physical needs and aspirations.

Referrals

Please send all referrals to the Bury community-based adult and paediatric physiotherapy services to the Bury Single Point of Access:

* Fax: 0207 019 7414
* Email: spoa.fax@nhs.net

Contact us

If you have any general queries, please contact us on 0161 716 1517 or 0161 716 1500.

If you have any questions about a referral you have sent, please phone 0300 323 3316 (option 2, then option 5).

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The paediatric physiotherapy team provides assessment, treatment and support to children and young people who have musculoskeletal, neurological or developmental conditions. We provide assessments and treatment at Bury Living Well Centre and a number of local schools, nurseries and homes. We accept referrals for children up to the age of 16 years, who are registered with a GP in Bury.

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Motor Skills videos and information about sensory processing disorder

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"sensory processing disorder" children "special education" "occupational therapy" "sensory integration" "fine motor activities" "gross motor activities" dysp...

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GriffinOT helps children children to achieve their full potential by providing supports their parents and educators. Our expert advice and online training is specifically designed for educators and parents who want to know how they can help their children succeed.

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Some children require special educational provision because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided. These difficulties can be age related and may fluctuate over time. Many children and young people with vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) will require specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning, or habilitation support.

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Timescales when applying for a needs assessment

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An easy to follow explanation

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What is an Education, Health and Social Care (EHC) plan? (updated 2019)

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BBC Bitesize

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Starting primary school - BBC Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize

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Advice and games to help you and your child prepare for primary school, then thrive during their first year.

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Starting primary school - parent stories

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Starting primary school - parent stories

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Starting school: parents' stories

All Time for School
Time for School - Starting school: parents' stories

Real-life experiences, memories and advice from teachers, parents and CBeebies presenters about starting school.

Your child's first day at school can be really nerve-wracking for both you and your little one. Here at CBeebies Grown-ups we've collected some of our favourite articles about starting school. We asked some parents to share their own personal experiences with us and some of the CBeebies presenters joined in on the action too!

The teacher's story: starting school

Mum and early years teacher Susan tells CBeebies Grown-ups what it's like when you're a teacher and your own child is starting school...
Can you remember how you were feeling on the first day – what happened?
That’s the trickiest part of balancing being a teacher and being a mum – I wasn’t able to take time off work to be there... READ MORE

Parent's experience: starting nursery

Mum Emma talks to CBeebies Grown-ups about her experience of her daughter Fianna (aged two) starting at nursery…

Why did you choose the nursery that you did for your little girl?

My daughter Fianna originally went to a child minder from the age of twelve months, but just after her 2nd birthday my husband and I... READ MORE

Parent's experience: starting school

Mum Beate talks to CBeebies Grown-ups about her experience of her son Lucas starting Reception.

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your child?

Lucas is now six years old and about to start year 2. He has loved going to school, most of the time... READ MORE

Parent's experience: starting home education

Mum Alice talks to CBeebies Grown-ups about her experience of starting home education with her son...

Why did you choose to home educate?

After my son arrived our bond seemed so strong that I couldn’t think of sending him into day care, be that a nursery or a child minder... READ MORE

Parent's experience: starting school with special needs

Dad Chris talks to CBeebies Grown-ups about his experience of his daughter Harriet starting school…

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your children

Harriet is a twin who is diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and was born premature at 28 weeks... READ MORE

Starting school: Cerrie's memories

CBeebies presenter Cerrie shares her own memories of school and her experiences as a mum...

What do you remember about starting school?

I couldn't read until I was eight (when my dyslexia was finally diagnosed) so my I spent my first four years of primary school in a lovely imaginative daydream... READ MORE

Starting school: Cat, Andy and Katy's memories

We caught up with some of the CBeebies presenters to see what they remember about their first days at school… READ MORE

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Time for School - Starting school: parents’ stories

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Real-life experiences, memories and advice from teachers, parents and CBeebies presenters about starting school.

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How to prepare your child for starting school

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How to prepare your child for starting school

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CBeebies for grown ups

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CBeebies Grown-ups: Time For School: Tips for preparing your child for Reception

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Madeline explains what happened when her daughter Eleanor, who has Down’s Syndrome, started primary school.

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Moving up! The transition to Secondary School

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Moving up! The transition to Secondary School

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Anna Freud Centre

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Moving Up! The transition to secondary school (SUBTITLED)

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Preparing your child emotionally for Secondary School

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Preparing your child emotionally for Secondary School

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This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parents share their concerns before their child starts secondary school, including forming new friendships, new routines, and being overprotective. The film offers tips that can help you and your child prepare emotionally for these changes.

Tips:

Get your child to make a list of things they like about themselves, making sure they identify the attributes behind those qualities

Don't let your worries become their worries

Don't let them feel unsafe because you are constantly talking about safety

Prepare them for all of the new and fun opportunities that they'll have by talking to them about clubs and activities and encourage them to explore what's available

Increase the independence that you give them over the summer holidays or even their last months at primary school so that the jump to secondary feels natural

Let them know that should they need you, you are there for them and will help them no matter what

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Tips that can help you and your child prepare emotionally.

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BBC Bitesize

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Starting secondary school - BBC Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize

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Advice for parents who have a child starting secondary school this year, with tips on the emotional and practical sides of the transition.

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BBC Bitesize

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Starting secondary school with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs, or a child with an educational health & care plan the very idea of moving from primary to secondary school can feel daunting. Here are 5 top tips from an experienced inner city secondary school special educational needs co-ordinator, SENDCo, to help.

1. Create a one page profile about your child noting the difficulties and barriers they face at their primary school, and the strategies that work and that don’t work. This will help the school understand the world of your child quickly, from the people who understand them best, you. Things to consider when pulling it together; what’s currently working well at primary school? Can these strategies be replicated at the secondary school? Situations for your child to avoid, and main concerns about secondary school?

2. Visit the school on a regular school day with, and without, your child. When there, ask as many questions as you like; the school is new to you so don’t feel anything is silly to ask. What do you see are the barriers when you walk around; take notes if you need to.

3. Request a multi-agency meeting that will bring all key adults and agencies connected to the support and care of your child together in one meeting. Any key adult involved with the child would attend this meeting; class teacher, TA, parents, educational psychologist, communication interaction team, speech & language therapist etc. Your current primary SENDCo will be able to co-ordinate this with their secondary school equivalent. Bring along the one page profile, multiple copies if possible, so that it can be shared with everyone, and questions following your visit to the school.

Sample questions to ask:

Where can my child go if they are struggling/anxious/having a meltdown?

What happens at break and lunch time when it is unstructured time?

How can my child get help with reading/spelling/maths/homework?

How will support in assessments work?

Will my child get a Teaching assistant?

4. Ensure you have a named contact at the secondary school and their contact details. This can be the form tutor, SENDCo or head of year. Ask the school which is the best way of contacting them.

5. Consider what needs to be shared with your child:

Transition plan - between the professionals. Lists of multiple individuals and agencies could be overwhelming for the child.

Transition booklet – a go-to guide for the child with named staff and photos of key adults and rooms that they can keep in their bag or locker.

Avoid making your child anxious by saying things like "I don't know how it works, I don't know who to ask". Hopefully with a named contact this shouldn't happen.

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Starting secondary school with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

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SENDCo Trudi Skinner gives advice for parents of SEN children about to start secondary school.