MIT Professor Catherine Drennan on Her Dyslexia and Its Advantages 

It was physically painful for me to hear what the professor said to you in the exam. This is exactly my experience. People have no expectations if they know you are dyslectic. They just assume you can't do it "but it's OK". I dropped out of school when I was 16 and now I'm on the way to finish my phd. Thank you very much for this talk, You are giving me the power to continue fighting.

I flunked my test going into grad Scholl but they took me anyway and I graduated with a 3.9 score- all A s one B my last year. My thesis was my only B . I drew pictures as my notes a lot - I made up stories to remember the material. I’m so creative in my thinking. I’m great in philosophy and psychology. I’m a deep- creative thinker. I write exceptionally well. I always lived in my own creative dream world

I would have needed that 50 years ago Very insightful presentation All children in elementary school should see this

I went through a similar thing. I became a structural engineer which is a good career for a dyslexic. You have to image and put elements of a structure together in your head as you are developing concepts, designing and trying to figure out how a building will get built. The ironic thing is that you also end up writing a lot. All my teachers in high school were suggesting careers where there wasn't a lot of writing and in their minds they thought engineering would be good. It was good but what they didn't realize is the amount of writing you need to do for legal reports, field reports, professional opinions, design coordination with other professionals, communicating site fixes to contractors etc etc. I learned to write as a professional and now I can write well and fairly quickly. Engineering is mostly about communicating about what you know and design. A design in your head alone does little good when it takes a team of people to coordinate and build. A legal opinion regarding a design or structural failure in your head alone does little good unless you can communicate it and coherently defend it. I grew up before the computer age and I have to say, spell check, Audible, RU-vid, and all the other tools make a big difference.

Thank you for your excellent talk, Catherine. Your experience and insights reminded me of the journey that my highly dyslexic son is still on in establishing himself. Whilst highly intelligent in the same way you described at the start of your talk (his school teachers commented on how much he knew about the world apart from his school materials), he still can't read road signs at 21. Imposter syndrome - yup, he's also got it in large buckets despite tutoring his peers at university. He's finishing a degree in Robotics, will be amongst the top of the class (with no special favours or support) - and yet thinks he's not good enough to get a good job or do a Masters in space robotics. Unfortunately, his university has been utterly useless in developing his talent. But on the flip side, he's got a tiger mum who's determined to help him through all the challenges that people with dyslexia face in engaging with the rest of the world and their confidence. And the best bit - he thinks differently and imaginatively, constantly reminding me of my limitations in being 'normal'.

I 've been watching your videos (Biology and Chemistry classes), and I enjoy them very much! You love the subject, you live teaching it and you love your students. And the students love you! Thank you, prof. Catherine Drennan!

This is me too! Only child of older parents. I also have an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering and an MBA.

ADHDer here, grateful to have found Dr Drennan's presentation. A few years ago, trying to describe ADHD to a friend, I said without thinking that it's like dyslexia but the distortion is in time perception and planning rather than in perceiving written language. It's a lot more than that, but this is a huge part of it for me. I've since wondered whether my comparison was accurate, and so have been trying to learn more about the experience of dyslexia. Dr Drennan's story of working around her challenges is very familiar. "Neuro divergences" like dyslexia and ADHD do impart some special abilities. Because I have to finagle my way through life on a daily basis, I see solutions to problems no one else could figure out. And the roundabout approaches I have to take to learning almost anything make me a pretty good teacher. Of course there are struggles, but really, those are rooted in society's narrow view and inflexibility. The world is so reliant on the written word that many automatically assume dyslexics to be incapable of success. Conventional patterns of functioning are so ingrained that ADHDers too are assumed incapable of success. But in fact, neurodivergents are sabotaged by society's incapability to see the big picture. Well into middle age, I've come to understand that every single human being has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has some rare, valuable strength that the world needs. The trick is that we all need to be more like Martha Ludwig (Dr Drennan's advisor at U of M). Lose the obsession with convention, ignore the labels, and seek the strengths in others, then get out of their way and let their potential blossom.

Listening to your recount of your journey with dyslexia. Very much mirrors my journey. It was a massive relief to end High School. I too repeated grade 6. No help, no recognition of the condition, questioned my abilities regarding formal education. Until I hit 44 years old. I figured out how to get my brain to understand, process, apply and remember. I did this with specific concentrated meditation focusing on the brain, and areas where dyslexia tended to foul up the thought process. I aced my classes, and moved on to even more education. It helped that no one bothered me, being that I was at least 20 years older. None of that peer pressure. I agree with being able to have different perceptions. I am proud of my brain! It's actually quite remarkable. 😊

I never put into words how I learned how to read until watching this RU-vid video! 💡 When I was younger, I had a very hard time reading. Spelling was particularly bad for me. I remember that my oldest sister would be amazed that, instead of reading the words, I tried to guess them. I just realized that that's what I was doing. I was trying to recognize the words by their shapes. I remember that, if I tried to actually read a word, it would take just too long! Recognizing the word was the only way for me to keep up the speed and be able to fool my teachers into thinking that I was actually reading, more or less, like the other kids. 🏃 I was never diagnosed until my 30's! So, when I was on my teens, I decided to improve my reading by brute force. I would go to the library and I'd get the thicket SCI-FI books I could find! Like a literal bookworm, I would spend whole afternoons slowing digesting those books. That strategy improved my reading and I got a great vocabulary in the process. 😁 But my spelling was still terrible. Microsoft Word Spell Check was a life saver...✍ Dyslexia also forged my character. Nothing came easy to me. I would, sometimes, get discouraged but I learned to deal with adversity and to persevere. I am Dyslexic and this is part of who I am. I am proud of me, warts and all! Warts... 🤮

I was told the very same thing in school, that I would never graduate from high school. Took me longer, but I did and went on to be an electronic technician in the Navy. I see words like pictures. Back then, (1950-60s), where I went to school, I don't think they even knew what dyslexia was.

Thank you for making this presentation available. My 13 year old was just assessed as being dyslexic. We are working with her pediatrician to get a diagnosis. I shared this video with her. You have a tremendously positive message. Interestingly enough, I was also assessed the same and am happy to share this with her and hopefully help her on her journey.

This is me, me, me!!!! I am finally working on beginning my doctorate this fall:)

In grade 4 my teacher told me I was so dumb that I'd never go to university...I have two bachelors and 2 Masters...and go back for another every decade or so...luv it! thanks! Stu

Thank you for very much for this video, I started listening to this when I started my postgraduate studies. Right I’m a published author in leading peer viewed journals and I am doing my PhD. It is possible ❤

9:36 Oh my word. If this isn't me... I just started my first year of a biochem phd program right after undergrad and I have the same thoughts of "The admission committee made a huge mistake accepting me but I'm just gonna enjoy the ride" lol! I was never formally diagnosed with dyslexia but (apparently) I showed strong symptoms during elementary school (enough for my teachers to set up meetings with my parents to discuss moving me to special ed). Luckily, my parents brushed off the suggestions and my dad would take me to the library to find some extra books to read.

This was absolutely amazing to listen to! Loved it! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!

Can confirm this is how I read. I was diagnosed in 2nd grade.

When I talk like this people's eyes glaze over. I'm envious that others were able to see your brilliance.

Me myself I've never been diagnosed as dyslexic but failed many exams and tutor at college diagnosed me as one

No wonder you are a Professor at M.I.T. since you are so smart and M.I.T. only lets smart people into the school. I have a friend whose son who received highest honors at graduation from high school. Then he went to Univeristy, majored in Science and graduated #1 in his class. He applied to a few grad schools and was accepted. At his subsequent graduation we were making toasts to him and several other PhD recipients. When it was my turn, I stood up and asked if anyone knew why Roger had chosen the school he did? There was silence. I then asked if anyone wanted to know? Of course was the reply. I then explained that Roger had gone to Harvard because he couldn't spell M.I.T.

For many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste it's sweetness on the desert air, but thankfully for us not Catherine Drennan, but so many more are missed.

So glad I came across this video.

Great job! I am proud of you.

How nice to tell your story.

amazing....very inspiring...THANK YOU!

I would like to have someone like you teach my class

Amazing!! Thank you!

a true teacher can explain the complicated to people that don't have the same background.......

Bravo, Catherine Drennan!

Great person Smart professor I liked her very much.

At the age of 38 my wife said "enough you have to get your DEGREE" but I got caught in second try at this college. They were good to me, and graduated.

So glad that people like you are fighting the stereotype. I've been trying to create a youtube channel that allows people to find tools that help them to break those stereotypes.

For me, smart verses genius comes down to how quickly you can solve a problem. The joke I like to use: "What's the difference between an 'A' & a 'B' student? An 'A' student knows the answer, a 'B' student knows where to look it up." & "What do you call a doctor who graduated at the bottom of his class? - Doctor."

Amazing video

You rock!! Great job.

i absolutely love her

Ma'am you're amazing!!

Thank you for this presentation...you have inspired me to carry on to reach a goal... :)

that's exactly how I read! :) thankyou!

Now that I’m an adult, there is NO WAY I’d give up my dyslexia!

That was very interesting!

You rock.. Take what ya got and make it work.

What you said about how you learned to read. I am in my mid 40's and realized when you said that, it was an ahah moment for me. Thanks for putting it in words.

Can you take a bunch of continuous snapshots and then play them like a kid did on the corner pages of a book. By that I mean. You put a picture on a page then barely change it on each page and then when you flip thru the pages and it looks like the picture is moving?? I see shapes and patterns too! Love the talk. Much Gratitude!

Loved your sense of humour. Pretending in a professional setting long-term can lead to a breakdown. But humour and kindness is to me the best coping mechanism.

Being dyslexic I agree 100 percent. Its really not a disability. Its like being left handed and not having the "lefty scissors" in many situations but to say that its an innate disability makes me sick. You wouldnt call a lefty disabled. But lefites certainly would be if they are were made to cut things all day with righty scissors. Its just often very outside of the norm to be dyslexic and to take an authoritative stance on any issue. But if you look around so many people within the so called norm seem to have a lot of problems health, moral and creative problems. THeres just too many of them vs dyslexics. I would like there to be more studies on possibly health attention and moral problems related to having a more "efficient" reading brain. Those are the kinds of studies done to "help" dyslexics and it feels like a major insult. I think the use of "reading brain" from dawn to dusk is a very recent development in humanity. I feel it leads to arrogance. Look around at all of the health problems people have. I think non dyslexics should be helped to turn off their reading brains more often for the sake of their health and to return to higher moral culture. I agree whole heartedly with everything you had to say. Thank your brave speach!

I'm 45 and only found out little more than a year ago that I'm dyslexic I was everything but In my heart I new my whole life from my Dad getting annoyed at why I couldn't memorize my abcss When was growing up they just said You were different and stuck us in the same classroom all day except PE never did grauate but I tried guess that's when I found out couldn't pass Ged even after they gave me extra time help Etc still couldn't pass math and reading tool 6 times in 2 years just trying to take collage courses so I could get into a better field of work O gezz I'm ranting and dint remember what I said now Well thank you for Video

your truly wonderful. truly amazing. lovely

Impressive !!!

Code! God Bless such people.

I really thought I was the only one that had dyslexia when I was growing up

Smart is best understood as intelligence plus knowledge. Add success and you get genius.

Your job is interesting..it is realy usefull centent..dam good..👍

15:36 Advice: Don't listen to what anyone tells you can/cannot do. The only way you can figure out what you are capable of is to try it!

I had dislexics and i never knew that i was suffering from something that i would find out later in my life when i was 43 is when i found out that there waa sa name for what i was going though because i found out that i couldn't remember what just read and that's when i found out that there was s name for this and So i std What it on there abe yan nuc

yes

Thank you, I too am dyslexic.

Help I need advice on revising and recalling information. I am struggling with college. I feel I am going to fail. I have no qualifications. I did a practical course and then now in college it is theory .I have been warned I might fail the course if I don't pass my tests please help.

Shes lucky it only took by 7th grade to read,it took me by mid highschool until the end to read a newspaper

You Are So Right!!

WOW!

people like me !!!!!!! bless you

I know what these is Same problems in my life.

❤️❤️💗

Go Blue A2

❤❤❤

حتى لو ابغاء الدنيا وزينتها الفطره الادميه لن اتخلا عنها. يعني ته و ته الان

you see patterns in protiens i see patterns in human behavior, cool, oh yea they call me Doctor too! very similar story

As someone how is dyslexic but not intellectually gifted I don't think her case applies to me.

ته و ته الان

J

I am a 'human',NOT a 'label'......!!!!

ask any smart person a simple question and you'll get a complicated answer.

I am a 'human',NOT a 'label'......!!!!