Disabilities Awareness bios
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Always doing something and never<br />
finishing anything<br />
Written by Kate Cleaver<br />
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder<br />
effects behaviour, making people restless and unable to concentrate.<br />
Although symptoms can be seen before a child starts school, it is once in<br />
education that it is particularly noticeable. The structure of a classroom<br />
and the way education is taught can mean a child with ADHD can seem<br />
disruptive. As an adult the condition can become more manageable but<br />
most will have concentration issues and a ‘brain fog’ that can make work<br />
difficult. 1<br />
The gymnast Simone Biles is very well decorated but when her<br />
confidential medical records were hacked, her use of prescription drugs<br />
was leaked. Simone responded, “I have ADHD and have taken<br />
medication for it since I was a child… having ADHD, and taking<br />
medication for it is nothing to be ashamed of…” 2<br />
Channing Tatum has also taken medication for his ADHD. In his case he<br />
found himself placed in the class of ‘special’ children. He found that he<br />
didn’t fit there. He was then put into the mainstream classes but found<br />
he didn’t fit there either. He described that he was nowhere, “you’re just<br />
different.” 3<br />
Of course, some people live their lives without being diagnosed until they<br />
are much older. In the case of journalist Lisa Ling, she was diagnosed at<br />
40. She found the whole process a relief as it finally explained her<br />
inability to focus. 4<br />
The chef, Jamie Oliver, has ADHD but rather than use medication, he<br />
advocates the use of good nutrition. A British study has found that the<br />
additives found in processed foods can make the symptoms of ADHD<br />
worse. 5<br />
Other creatives have used their ADHD to their advantage, such as Jim<br />
Carey. Jim has had treatment since he was a child, but his high-energy<br />
and creativity he channels into being a comedian.<br />
Dr Iliades suggested that ADHD is difficult to live with but when people<br />
manage it and, to a certain extent, use it, they have an advantage in<br />
creativity and enthusiasm. 6 Potentially ADHD is not a disadvantage but<br />
an advantage.<br />
1<br />
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder NHS.uk (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/ accessed<br />
28/10/2020)<br />
2<br />
ADHD Educational Board, ADDITUDE (https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/famous-people-with-adhd/ accessed 28/10/2020)<br />
3<br />
Ibid<br />
4<br />
Ibid<br />
5<br />
C, Iliades, Famous people gat ADHD, too In https://www.everydayhealth.com/add-adhd-pictures/celebrities-with-adhd accessed 6<br />
28/10/2020) Aug 31 2010<br />
6<br />
Ibid
When you hear, feel, and<br />
see too much<br />
Written by Kate Cleaver<br />
The autistic spectrum disorder is highly varied and can range from mild<br />
to severe, and include asperger’s syndrome. How autistic people react is<br />
different, they can find it difficult to communicate, interact and<br />
empathise.<br />
Loud noises and bright lights can be uncomfortable, and they can get<br />
anxious about changes in their lifestyles. They can use repetitive<br />
behaviour in order to feel comfort and to feel less anxious. But autism is<br />
not an illness. 1<br />
Dan Aykroyd has asperger’s but he wasn’t diagnosed until after he had<br />
been expelled from two schools. Dan said that one of his symptoms of<br />
autism is that he obsesses over ghosts, which resulted in Ghostbusters. 2<br />
Perhaps having incredible shyness and a fear of fame are not qualities for<br />
an actress, but Daryl Hannah pushed past the symptoms. Diagnosed at a<br />
time when autism was not understood, it was recommended to her<br />
mother that Daryl be institutionalised and medicated. And although her<br />
mother refused, Daryl was isolated as a child. She escaped by watching<br />
movies, the reason she became an actress. 3<br />
Many adults who believe themselves to be on the spectrum don’t get<br />
diagnosed because of the stigma that comes with it, but Amy Schumer<br />
says that it is, “totally positive.” Amy goes on to say that her husband’s<br />
diagnosis allowed him to come to terms with the disorder. “I just want<br />
[ed] to encourage people to not be afraid of that stigma.” 4<br />
There are many ways to help autistics cope but the stigma behind the<br />
diagnosis is a problem. As Grace Back says:<br />
“It is up to us to end the stigma.” 5<br />
1<br />
What is autism? In NHS.uk (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/ accessed 30/10/2020) 18 April 2019<br />
2<br />
K Hurley “7 Famous People With Autism Spectrum Disorder” In PSYCOM.net (https://www.psycom.net/autism-famous-people accessed<br />
om 30/10/2020)<br />
3<br />
Ibid<br />
4<br />
G. Back, “6 Celebrities who have spoken openly about autism.” In Marie Claire (https://www.marieclaire.com.au/celebrity-autism<br />
accessed 30/10/2020) 28 May 2019<br />
5<br />
Ibid
Words that jump and tremble<br />
Written by Kate Cleaver<br />
The Mona Lisa has got to be one of the most well-known paintings in the<br />
world. It has appeared in documentaries and movies, in particular the<br />
DaVinci Code, a drama that takes its name from Leonardo Da Vinci. The<br />
man behind the Mona Lisa is far more complicated than a painter. He is<br />
considered a scientist, sculptor and naturalist as well as someone who<br />
loved codes.<br />
He was also dyslexic. Leonardo made copious notes throughout his<br />
notebooks and sketchbooks, all of the text was written from right to left,<br />
as a mirror image. This was not due to his dyslexia but because he chose<br />
to write like this.1<br />
Dr Salvatore Manigione suggests that dyslexia was the reason that Da<br />
Vinci was so creative. It “made him Leonardo”. 2<br />
So, what is dyslexia? Well, it is to do with the wiring in your brain. Certain<br />
concepts are difficult to grasp; letters, reading, writing, and spelling. But<br />
what can be a difficulty can also increase creativity, and in the case of<br />
Da Vinci, increased it greatly.<br />
Da Vinci’s earliest biographer, Giorgio Vasari, says that the artist’s school<br />
resulted in mediocre results, which he attributed to ‘doodling’. There are<br />
also the notebooks… they are all meticulously created but Da Vinci could<br />
have up to nine different ways of spelling a word:<br />
Rane<br />
Rain<br />
Both sound the same, but are spelt very differently. A known problem,<br />
with dyslexics is these homophonic words and non-words.<br />
Dyslexics are known as being intelligent, creative and resourceful, yet<br />
today those with dyslexia are more likely to drop out of school or become<br />
‘difficult’ in the classroom. Looking at what Da Vinci achieved, perhaps it<br />
is the failure of the way we learn rather than ability.<br />
Whoopi Goldberg is a well-known actress and comedian, and she holds a<br />
Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award and an Emmy, as well as the Mark Twain<br />
Prize for American Humour. She is also an author, but in school she was<br />
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<br />
retarded for a good part of mine, according to all the paperwork, and I<br />
just couldn’t handle it.” 3<br />
Before she was twenty, Whoopi had experienced divorce, drug use and<br />
had to cope with raising a child.<br />
Yet despite the difficulties in her life and the fact the school had washed<br />
their hands of her, Whoopi’s mother never gave up, telling her daughter<br />
that she could do anything. Whoopi grew up wanting to become an<br />
actress and a lucky break saw her cast by Steven Spielberg in The Colour<br />
Purple.<br />
The successes started to happen, but she didn’t start to champion<br />
charitable causes until she hosted comic relief. Since then she has an<br />
advocate in the fight against homelessness, HIV and poverty.<br />
Whoopi’s ability to not give up meant that she was able to overcome the<br />
problems society had placed in front of her. But perhaps it shouldn’t be<br />
said that she ‘overcame’ problems but rather she found a way to excel in<br />
her creativity.<br />
1 “Famous People with Dyslexia: were Einstein, Da Vinci and Edison Dyslexic?” In A to Z of Brain, Mind and Learning<br />
(http://dyslexia.learninginfo.org/famous-people.htm accessed 28/10/2020) .<br />
2 “Was Leonardo da Vinci’s Dyslexia Responsible for his Brilliance” In Neuroscience News.com<br />
(https://neurosciencenews.com/da-vinci-dyslexia-13021/ accessed 28/10/2020) 3 May 2019<br />
3 “Whoopi Coldberg, Academy Award-winning Actress” In The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity<br />
(https://dyslexia.yale.edu/story/whoopi-goldberg accessed 29/10/2020)
“Such a clumsy dolt”<br />
Written by Kate Cleaver<br />
Less known than dyslexia, dyspraxia is a developmental co-ordination<br />
disorder that affects people from birth. It is usually noticeable with the<br />
milestones in children, such as crawling, walking and dressing. As children<br />
start school, they can have problems drawing and writing as well as with<br />
sport, in particular catching balls and racket sports.<br />
We all know that Harry Potter is a wizard, but he also suffers from<br />
dyspraxia. Daniel Radcliffe has a mild form of dyspraxia but he has said<br />
that it affected him badly in his early school years. He has said that he<br />
was terrible at “everything, with no discernible talent.”<br />
In a blog, Daniel has texted a ten year old girl with dyspraxia:<br />
“Do not let it stop you. It has never held me back, and some of the<br />
smartest people I know are people who have learning disabilities. The<br />
fact that some things are more of a struggle will only make you more<br />
determined, harder working and more imaginative in the solutions you<br />
find to problems.” 1<br />
Cara Delevingne has also spoken about her dyspraxia and said that it<br />
affected her writing and her exams. After her A-levels, she turned to the<br />
arts in order to express herself and threw herself into music and drama.2<br />
Dyspraxia is the lesser known of the hidden disabilities and normally<br />
doesn’t exist on its own but will be part of a mix like dyslexia, dyspraxia<br />
and aspergers…<br />
1 G. C Tucker “Harry Potter Star Gives Dyspraxia Advice” Understood.org<br />
(https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/in-the-news/2014/12/16/harry-potter-star-gives-dyspraxia-advice accessed<br />
30/10/2020) 16 Dec 2014<br />
2 “Famous People with Dyspraxia” Dyspraxia Kids (https://dyspraxiakids.com/famous-people-with-dyspraxia/ accessed on the<br />
30/10/2020)