Dyslexia is a learning disability
in reading affecting kids and adults alike. People with Dyslexia have trouble
reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time
with reading comprehension, spelling, writing and at times sequential memory.
It is estimated that Dyslexia is estimated to have a prevalence of 5% to 17%
among school-age children. Children with Dyslexia have difficulty in learning
to read as they mix letters and remember spellings. Dyslexia is caused by
differences in the way the brain processes language, making it harder to
connect letters with sounds and recognize words automatically. It does not
result from vision or hearing problems. Also, it is not due to mental
retardation, brain damage, or a lack of intelligence. It has to be understood
that Dyslexia is not a mental disorder and has nothing to do with the IQ of the
individual.
In 1877, German neurologist Adolf
Kussmaul was the first to identify a phenomenon which he named Wortblindheit
(word-blindness). 10 years later, Rudolf Berlin, a German ophthalmologist
coined the term "Dyslexia" which has Greek roots for "difficulty
with words". Over the years, countless studies have researched Dyslexia,
concluding it is not a disability at all, but those with it think differently.
In 2002, MRIs done by professionals at Yale University found that the brains of
people with Dyslexia worked differently as compared to ordinary people. Many
individuals with Dyslexia are also highly creative and great at thinking
outside the box.
It is important to remember that
diagnosis of Dyslexia is just not the end of the academic road of an
individual. Every Dyslexic individual sees and learns about the world from a
different perspective. Historians feel it's possible that many major figures
from the past had learning and thinking differences. However, it's hard to know
for sure about people who lived 100 years ago or more as there aren't enough
records. But here are some accomplished individuals who made a big impact on
history, from centuries past to more recent times. They overcame challenges and
may inspire our children to do the same.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). As
an artist, inventor, scientist, engineer, and writer, Leonardo da Vinci had
many talents. He also had interesting habits, like writing backward, spelling
strangely, and not following through on projects. Today, we understand that
these traits can all be characteristics of Dyslexia and other learning and
thinking differences. Whether or not he had Dyslexia, Leonardo used his
strengths to earn a place as one of history's greatest geniuses.
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922). Bell reinvented the field
of communications by creating the first telephone. But years earlier, he struggled
in school. Even though he was gifted at problem solving, it's thought that he
had trouble reading and writing, possibly as a result of Dyslexia. He was
eventually homeschooled by his mother. With her help, Bell learned to manage
his challenges and he went on to change the world.
Thomas Edison (1847-1931). School didn't come easily
for Edison, either. He was considered "difficult". Historians believe
he may have had Dyslexia. But his appetite for knowledge was huge. He developed
effective ways to study and learn on his own. As a result, Edison's unique way
of tackling problems helped him make history. He shaped modern life by
inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the light bulb.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Einstein was well known for
his brilliance in math and physics but he also struggled with language
difficulties, leading some people to suggest he may have had Dyslexia. He had
extremely delayed speech and didn't speak fluently until he was 6 years old.
Einstein also had problems getting his thoughts down, retrieving language and
reading out loud, all characteristic signs of Dyslexia. Nobel laureate of 1921
in physics, his contributions in theoretical Physics demonstrated a unique and
novel approach to problem solving which is one of the strengths associated with
Dyslexia.
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). According to many accounts,
the world-famous artist may have had Dyslexia. He expressed feelings that many
kids who learn and think differently have. "Don't think I didn't try (to
learn at school)," he said. "I tried hard. I would start but
immediately be lost." Fortunately, his father, an art teacher, encouraged
him to develop his artistic talents. His unique vision of the world came
through in his powerful works of art. The rest is art history.
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016). One of the greatest boxers
of all time, Muhammad Ali struggled with Dyslexia. He has said he could barely
read his high school textbooks. Nonetheless, he managed to graduate. He became
an Olympic gold medallist at the age of 18 and he was world heavyweight boxing
champion at 22. He is also remembered today for having strong principles. He
refused to fight in the Vietnam War, even though this damaged his sports
career.
Design Elements:- All the main inscriptions on the stamp have been done using red colour as red is accepted as the colour associated to Dyslexia awareness. The dreaded red, a colour many kids have seen throughout their education has been re-appropriated. The red pen used to highlight mistakes is all too familiar for Dyslexics around the world. Dyslexia Associations have chosen this colour to take back its meaning and globally promote Dyslexia awareness.
Ø Scrambled
text reading "You may find this hard to read. Imagine if everything you
read looked like this" and mirror imaged E in Dyslexia on the stamp
stimulates the experience of reading with Dyslexia.
Ø PAKISTAN
(in English) has been inscribed in the font created by Daniel Britton, a
graphic designer who himself is a Dyslexic. His created typeface removes parts
of the alphabets to illustrate the difficulties faced in reading by Dyslexics
by breaking down the reading time of a non-dyslexic down to the speed of a
Dyslexic by removing around 40% of each letter. This slows down the user's
reading experience to the speed of a Dyslexic, thus recreating the frustration
and embarrassment of everyday reading of a Dyslexic.
Ø Dyslexia
symbol has been used on the labels and on the postmark for this issue. Formed
with the letters pq bd, the symbol is inspired by Dyslexics and how they
process information differently in ways that provide advantages in reasoning
and understanding relationships.
Ø The
unorthodox First Day Cover is crafted by Youshay, a diagnosed 12-year-old
Dyslexic to raise awareness about the topic.
On the occasion of World Dyslexia
Awareness Day on 8th October 2025, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative
Postage Stamp and a Souvenir Sheet valued at Rs. 30/- denomination each. It is
pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Post is the first postal organization
in the World to issue a stamp on Dyslexia Awareness Day.
