Dyslexia is a neurological difference, not a disability.
Dyslexia is NOT a disability. Recent comments made by Donald Trump about Gavin Newsom’s dyslexia stopped me in my tracks.
Not because they were shocking.
But because they were revealing.
To dismiss someone as “unfit” because they have dyslexia, or to suggest that a learning difference is the same as a “mental disability”, is not just inaccurate, it is harmful. As someone who has spent decades working with children who struggle with reading, spelling, and confidence, I can tell you this:
Words like these don’t stay in politics.
They land in classrooms. They land in homes. They land in the minds of children.
Let’s Get This Straight First
Dyslexia is not a measure of intelligence. It is a difference in how the brain processes language, particularly reading, spelling, and sometimes memory. That is all. Some of the brightest, most creative, most capable individuals I have worked with have dyslexia. Yet, many of them arrive at my centre believing something is “wrong” with them, not because of their ability, but because of the narrative they have absorbed.
The Real Damage Isn’t Political, It’s Personal
When a public figure uses dyslexia as an insult, here is what actually happens:
A child sitting in a classroom somewhere decides:
“That must mean I’m not clever.”
A teenager preparing for exams thinks:
“What’s the point? I’ll never be as good as everyone else.”
A parent quietly worries:
“Will my child be judged like this forever?”
This is how confidence is lost – not in one dramatic moment, but in hundreds of small messages that chip away at belief.
What I See Every Day
In my work, I meet students who:
- avoid reading out loud, not because they can’t, but because they are afraid
- rush through work to hide mistakes
- say “I’m just bad at English” or “I’m not a maths person”
- have already decided, at 10 or 12 or 14, what they are capable of
And here is the truth:
They are not lacking ability. They are lacking the right support and the right message.
When we change how they are taught, and how they see themselves, everything changes.
Dyslexia Does Not Limit Potential
If anything, many students with dyslexia develop:
- strong problem-solving skills
- creative thinking
- resilience
- the ability to see patterns others miss
But they only get to that point if we stop defining them by what they find difficult.
A Better Conversation
We need to move away from language that labels and limits.
Instead, we should be asking:
- What support does this person need to succeed?
- How can we adapt learning so it works for them?
- What strengths are we overlooking?
This is because the goal is not to make every child fit the system – it is to make the system flexible enough to fit the child.
My Thoughts
I have seen children go from hiding at the back of the room to putting their hand up with confidence. This is not because they suddenly became “smarter”, but because someone finally showed them they were capable. So when dyslexia is used as an insult, I will always push back. I don’t do it loudly, but I do it firmly beccause every child who hears that message deserves to hear this one instead:
There is nothing wrong with how you learn.
You just haven’t been shown the right way yet.
At Emerald Education, we offer dyslexia and dyscalculia screening services. Find out more here: https://emeraldeducationcentrebundoran.com/product/dyslexia-dyscalculia-screening/