![Recognizing Talent in 3D Spatial Thinking [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/deep-cf_bq1xp6wk-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
In the early clinical literature on dyslexia, neurologists occasionally described something that did not fit the standard narrative of delay. Some children who struggled with reading produced drawings with unusually strong three-dimensional organization.
![Doodling Biology [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Doodling-Biology-1.png)
![Dyslexia: Wired for Photography [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wired-for-Photography-400x250.png)
“It’s something that defined me. Dyslexia made me more visual.” – National Geographic photographer Robert Clark Are dyslexic people wired for photography? It’s easy to see how many people might agree. Many dyslexic people describe their preferred ways of processing information as nonverbal rather than verbal. Visuals may make up a significant part of that processing preference; other ways may be kinesthetic or spatial. In his interview with MSNBC, Robert Clark recalled daydreaming in class and not focusing on what was written on the board. What he noticed instead was a pattern of light moving across the wall. I had the chance to ask him about that in an interview: “(I was) in a room where the lights were turned off and there was a […]
"It's a different way of seeing the world and it's very powerful. What I want to get across is it's more of a gift. It's not a struggle. It's not a disease. It's not a thing that prevents you from doing well in life." — Andrew Reeves, Architect and CEO of Linebox...
Recently I had such a nice visit to the Seattle Art Museum. It reminded me of how well dyslexic strengths can be cultivated in the multisensory experiences that are museums. This past summer we had had a visit by Yuko Tsuji, a dyslexia advocate in Japan who spearheaded an effort to get Dyslexic Advantage translated into Japanese. The photo includes our son Krister, who is an artist and author illustrator of graphic novels. I had seen that there was a visiting exhibit featuring Hokusai’s wood block prints at the museum.
MUSEUM VISITS ARE MULTISENSORY STORY EXPERIENCES Today’s modern museums are rich multisensory experiences, with pictures and 3-dimensional works of every size and shape, and stories conveyed in pencil and paint, sculpture, […]![Um.. Trouble Finding the Right Words [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Um.-Finding-the-Right-Words-400x250.jpg)
A young filmmaker, Lauren, interviewed for our movie shared that she had trouble putting her ideas into words. After the camera had shut off, I told her that many people over the years shared exactly the same thing. Lauren shared that when she reads a book, she gets vivid images of characters, events, and places. When she plans out a movie, she can visualize everything. We know that not everyone has that ability – and her visualization strengths are ideal for what she does today – make films. But there is considerable evidence that what might make you strong at generating pictures and other sensory images, may be balanced by weaker or at least more effortful generation of words. When we surveyed dyslexic […]
Recently, I discovered a free visual and hands-on math curriculum from The Math Learning Center, a non-profit organization that grew out of a National Science Foundation project. The curriculum is for Pre-K through 5th grade and it may be helpful as an addition to...
![You Think in Words; I Think in Pictures [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Screen-Shot-2023-02-16-at-12.28.43-PM-400x250.png)
“…when I was a kid, my mother had often asked my father, ‘What are you thinking?’ He’d shrug and say, ‘Nothing’ — a response that irritated her to no end. (‘How can he be thinking about nothing?’ she’d ask me.) I’ve always been on Team Dad; I spend a lot of time thoughtless, just living life. At the same time, whenever I speak, ideas condense out of the mental cloud. It was happening even then, as I talked with my friend: I was articulating thoughts that had been unspecified yet present in my mind. My head isn’t entirely word-free; like many people, I occasionally talk to myself in an inner monologue. (Remember the milk! Ten more reps!) On the whole, though, silence reigns. Blankness, too: […]
![Question: How to Help with Reversals [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/reversals-300x250.png)
Question: My middle grade student still has trouble with reversals. What can I do to help? Answer: Reversals can occur in different contexts, so understanding the different causes can help determine the best solutions. PERSISTENT LETTER REVERSALS Reversals can be a normal developmental finding up until the age of seven years. After that, severe difficulties with letter reversals may require intensive training or even therapy. Letter Recognition Persistent letter recognition problems are usually helped by a variety of multisensory sensory and mnemonic approaches. Programs like Zoophonics combine little memory associations and character drawings to help improve letter recognition. Hand visual mnemonics may help some children to distinguish between the letters b and d, as shown in the bed image: See more: Usually older students develop […]
![Visual Learning [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/visual-imagination-400x250.png)
Two of the strongest differences seen in our survey of 12,291 members of our Dyslexic Advantage community were answers to questions below: LEARNING THROUGH PICTURES, DIAGRAMS, AND IMAGERY “I generally prefer diagrams or pictures to written instructions or explanations.” 70% of definitely dyslexic people strongly agreed with this first statement compared to just 7% of definitely not dyslexic people. And look at the different profiles in response to this question: “When I think of historical facts or events, I see “scenes” or images in my mind, rather than just recalling verbal descriptions. 64% of definitely dyslexic people strongly agreed with this statement, compared to just 8% of definitely not dyslexic people. Think about the implications for schooling, but also workplace communication! No wonder clashes are […]
“I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of” are powerful prompts that lead you to observe more deeply, ask better questions, and make interesting connections.” — John (Jack) Muir Laws This is a great time to get outdoors and draw. Even if you’re a backyard nature watcher, trees and animals may be changing their appearance and tremendous shifts may be happening in migrating birds and other animals. We first got to meet Jack in person at our first Conference on Dyslexia and Talent almost a decade ago. He mesmerized us with his personal story (see video below) and approach to creating a more user-friendly field guide, Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada. Fast forward to today, and Jack has launched an international movement of nature […]
