I was reading through some research last night regarding statistics about people who are diagnosed with dyslexia…and I came across this amazing journey of a man named Lawrence Schneider, who was so generous to share his dyslexia story with the world.

Lawrence Schneider’s journey with dyslexia begins back in the 1930’s during the Great Depression, where he was a young boy enrolled in a local Catholic school. During his experience there he struggled with reading, writing, and recalling numeric sequences in school. Back then dyslexia wasn’t well known, and he didn’t receive the help he needed.

Due to his academic struggles, and having been already an introvert, Lawrence turned inward, resulting in persistent bullying from his classmates. These experiences resulted in him becoming super shy and reluctant to even talk to people.

His mother, having very little knowledge about dyslexia herself, did her very best to provide tutoring to her son to help him succeed. Despite her best efforts, no matter how hard Lawrence tried, he couldn't make the grades in school. Nothing really worked. This continued even up until he went to apply for colleges. He almost didn’t even make it into college, but the school took a chance on him. And this one chance, changed his life forever.

Even through college Lawrence struggled to make grades, but somewhere deep within and somehow he managed to cope…all on his own. It was in college that a classmate suggested that he has the condition called dyslexia. At that point, it didn’t even matter to Lawrence as he was already managing it as best he could. He already learned to live with it, and thrive with it. He saw the difficulties he endured as solutions. They only made him stronger.

It’s so moving to say the following about Lawrence’s accomplishments:

*Graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering

*Worked for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency

*Became a NASA research engineer 

*College Professor

*Airplane Pilot

*Computer systems manager for the Federal Government

*Mastered the art of sculpting

*Author of “Say Yes on Saturday”

I think the takeaway is this.

Dyslexia IS a lifelong condition…but it ISN’t your life. It’s NOT you. It doesn't define you.

If you are a parent of a child with dyslexia or have the condition yourself…may you be inspired, encouraged, and see how this condition makes you extremely unique as you have so many other beautiful gifts and talents. Let’s spread the word about the uniqueness of dyslexia and getting people with this diagnosis the help they need to assist them along their journey.

Always have HOPE…and always reach for the stars as Lawrence did!

#dyslexiatherapy #dyslexia #reading #readingtutoring #scienceofreading #structureliteracy #education #teach #teachersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #inspiringstories #NASA #stcharlesil #genevail #bataviail #foxvalleyil