Disabilities Awareness bios

Always doing something and never
finishing anything
Written by Kate Cleaver
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder
effects behaviour, making people restless and unable to concentrate.
Although symptoms can be seen before a child starts school, it is once in
education that it is particularly noticeable. The structure of a classroom
and the way education is taught can mean a child with ADHD can seem
disruptive. As an adult the condition can become more manageable but
most will have concentration issues and a ‘brain fog’ that can make work
difficult. 1
The gymnast Simone Biles is very well decorated but when her
confidential medical records were hacked, her use of prescription drugs
was leaked. Simone responded, “I have ADHD and have taken
medication for it since I was a child… having ADHD, and taking
medication for it is nothing to be ashamed of…” 2
Channing Tatum has also taken medication for his ADHD. In his case he
found himself placed in the class of ‘special’ children. He found that he
didn’t fit there. He was then put into the mainstream classes but found
he didn’t fit there either. He described that he was nowhere, “you’re just
different.” 3
Of course, some people live their lives without being diagnosed until they
are much older. In the case of journalist Lisa Ling, she was diagnosed at
40. She found the whole process a relief as it finally explained her
inability to focus. 4
The chef, Jamie Oliver, has ADHD but rather than use medication, he
advocates the use of good nutrition. A British study has found that the
additives found in processed foods can make the symptoms of ADHD
worse. 5
Other creatives have used their ADHD to their advantage, such as Jim
Carey. Jim has had treatment since he was a child, but his high-energy
and creativity he channels into being a comedian.
Dr Iliades suggested that ADHD is difficult to live with but when people
manage it and, to a certain extent, use it, they have an advantage in
creativity and enthusiasm. 6 Potentially ADHD is not a disadvantage but
an advantage.
1
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder NHS.uk (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/ accessed
28/10/2020)
2
ADHD Educational Board, ADDITUDE (https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/famous-people-with-adhd/ accessed 28/10/2020)
3
Ibid
4
Ibid
5
C, Iliades, Famous people gat ADHD, too In https://www.everydayhealth.com/add-adhd-pictures/celebrities-with-adhd accessed 6
28/10/2020) Aug 31 2010
6
Ibid

When you hear, feel, and
see too much
Written by Kate Cleaver
The autistic spectrum disorder is highly varied and can range from mild
to severe, and include asperger’s syndrome. How autistic people react is
different, they can find it difficult to communicate, interact and
empathise.
Loud noises and bright lights can be uncomfortable, and they can get
anxious about changes in their lifestyles. They can use repetitive
behaviour in order to feel comfort and to feel less anxious. But autism is
not an illness. 1
Dan Aykroyd has asperger’s but he wasn’t diagnosed until after he had
been expelled from two schools. Dan said that one of his symptoms of
autism is that he obsesses over ghosts, which resulted in Ghostbusters. 2
Perhaps having incredible shyness and a fear of fame are not qualities for
an actress, but Daryl Hannah pushed past the symptoms. Diagnosed at a
time when autism was not understood, it was recommended to her
mother that Daryl be institutionalised and medicated. And although her
mother refused, Daryl was isolated as a child. She escaped by watching
movies, the reason she became an actress. 3
Many adults who believe themselves to be on the spectrum don’t get
diagnosed because of the stigma that comes with it, but Amy Schumer
says that it is, “totally positive.” Amy goes on to say that her husband’s
diagnosis allowed him to come to terms with the disorder. “I just want
[ed] to encourage people to not be afraid of that stigma.” 4
There are many ways to help autistics cope but the stigma behind the
diagnosis is a problem. As Grace Back says:
“It is up to us to end the stigma.” 5
1
What is autism? In NHS.uk (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/ accessed 30/10/2020) 18 April 2019
2
K Hurley “7 Famous People With Autism Spectrum Disorder” In PSYCOM.net (https://www.psycom.net/autism-famous-people accessed
om 30/10/2020)
3
Ibid
4
G. Back, “6 Celebrities who have spoken openly about autism.” In Marie Claire (https://www.marieclaire.com.au/celebrity-autism
accessed 30/10/2020) 28 May 2019
5
Ibid

Words that jump and tremble
Written by Kate Cleaver
The Mona Lisa has got to be one of the most well-known paintings in the
world. It has appeared in documentaries and movies, in particular the
DaVinci Code, a drama that takes its name from Leonardo Da Vinci. The
man behind the Mona Lisa is far more complicated than a painter. He is
considered a scientist, sculptor and naturalist as well as someone who
loved codes.
He was also dyslexic. Leonardo made copious notes throughout his
notebooks and sketchbooks, all of the text was written from right to left,
as a mirror image. This was not due to his dyslexia but because he chose
to write like this.1
Dr Salvatore Manigione suggests that dyslexia was the reason that Da
Vinci was so creative. It “made him Leonardo”. 2
So, what is dyslexia? Well, it is to do with the wiring in your brain. Certain
concepts are difficult to grasp; letters, reading, writing, and spelling. But
what can be a difficulty can also increase creativity, and in the case of
Da Vinci, increased it greatly.
Da Vinci’s earliest biographer, Giorgio Vasari, says that the artist’s school
resulted in mediocre results, which he attributed to ‘doodling’. There are
also the notebooks… they are all meticulously created but Da Vinci could
have up to nine different ways of spelling a word:
Rane
Rain
Both sound the same, but are spelt very differently. A known problem,
with dyslexics is these homophonic words and non-words.
Dyslexics are known as being intelligent, creative and resourceful, yet
today those with dyslexia are more likely to drop out of school or become
‘difficult’ in the classroom. Looking at what Da Vinci achieved, perhaps it
is the failure of the way we learn rather than ability.
Whoopi Goldberg is a well-known actress and comedian, and she holds a
Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award and an Emmy, as well as the Mark Twain
Prize for American Humour. She is also an author, but in school she was
considered ‘dumb’ by her peers as she struggled so much.

Whoopi says that “you don’t want to be retarded all your life… I was
retarded for a good part of mine, according to all the paperwork, and I
just couldn’t handle it.” 3
Before she was twenty, Whoopi had experienced divorce, drug use and
had to cope with raising a child.
Yet despite the difficulties in her life and the fact the school had washed
their hands of her, Whoopi’s mother never gave up, telling her daughter
that she could do anything. Whoopi grew up wanting to become an
actress and a lucky break saw her cast by Steven Spielberg in The Colour
Purple.
The successes started to happen, but she didn’t start to champion
charitable causes until she hosted comic relief. Since then she has an
advocate in the fight against homelessness, HIV and poverty.
Whoopi’s ability to not give up meant that she was able to overcome the
problems society had placed in front of her. But perhaps it shouldn’t be
said that she ‘overcame’ problems but rather she found a way to excel in
her creativity.
1 “Famous People with Dyslexia: were Einstein, Da Vinci and Edison Dyslexic?” In A to Z of Brain, Mind and Learning
(http://dyslexia.learninginfo.org/famous-people.htm accessed 28/10/2020) .
2 “Was Leonardo da Vinci’s Dyslexia Responsible for his Brilliance” In Neuroscience News.com
(https://neurosciencenews.com/da-vinci-dyslexia-13021/ accessed 28/10/2020) 3 May 2019
3 “Whoopi Coldberg, Academy Award-winning Actress” In The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity
(https://dyslexia.yale.edu/story/whoopi-goldberg accessed 29/10/2020)

“Such a clumsy dolt”
Written by Kate Cleaver
Less known than dyslexia, dyspraxia is a developmental co-ordination
disorder that affects people from birth. It is usually noticeable with the
milestones in children, such as crawling, walking and dressing. As children
start school, they can have problems drawing and writing as well as with
sport, in particular catching balls and racket sports.
We all know that Harry Potter is a wizard, but he also suffers from
dyspraxia. Daniel Radcliffe has a mild form of dyspraxia but he has said
that it affected him badly in his early school years. He has said that he
was terrible at “everything, with no discernible talent.”
In a blog, Daniel has texted a ten year old girl with dyspraxia:
“Do not let it stop you. It has never held me back, and some of the
smartest people I know are people who have learning disabilities. The
fact that some things are more of a struggle will only make you more
determined, harder working and more imaginative in the solutions you
find to problems.” 1
Cara Delevingne has also spoken about her dyspraxia and said that it
affected her writing and her exams. After her A-levels, she turned to the
arts in order to express herself and threw herself into music and drama.2
Dyspraxia is the lesser known of the hidden disabilities and normally
doesn’t exist on its own but will be part of a mix like dyslexia, dyspraxia
and aspergers…
1 G. C Tucker “Harry Potter Star Gives Dyspraxia Advice” Understood.org
(https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/in-the-news/2014/12/16/harry-potter-star-gives-dyspraxia-advice accessed
30/10/2020) 16 Dec 2014
2 “Famous People with Dyspraxia” Dyspraxia Kids (https://dyspraxiakids.com/famous-people-with-dyspraxia/ accessed on the
30/10/2020)