Following on from my post on famous people with dyslexia, I have put together a list of famous people with dysgraphia.
Dyslexia and dysgraphia often go hand in hand and because of this, many people won’t realise that dysgraphia is actually a separate issue. In the past, it was simply known as bad handwriting, however there is much more to this common learning difficulty than messy writing.
Dysgraphia is linked to poor fine motor skills and therefore, strengthening these skills is of great benefit. For more information and selection of the best activities for dysgraphia, click here.
If you or your child has been diagnosed with dysgraphia and are overwhelmed with the amount of information available online, I have a dedicated dysgraphia section with a number of clear, easy-to-read and informative articles. You can find them all here.
The list below will hopefully inspire your child with dysgraphia and show them that the learning difficulty does not need to hold them back and needn’t stop them from being anything they want to be! Some of the most famous people with dysgraphia include:
Albert Einstein
One of the most famous scientists in all of history, Einstein actually failed many exams throughout his education due to dyslexia and dysgraphia (neither of which was recognised at the time). He saw the world differently and because of (NOT despite of) him seeing the world differently, he introduced some of the most important scientific theories still used today.
George Patton
This famous American General excelled as an adult, but while he was at school, he found even recognizing the simplest words difficult and writing was even more difficult for him. However, he never let this define him and he remains one of the most famous generals in American history. A WWII hero and Olympian.
George Washington
The first president of the United States is said to have struggled with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Historians report that Washington didn’t spend a lot of time in school and was largely self-taught. Excerpts from his journals reveal poor handwriting, spatial awareness, spelling and grammar.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, one of the most famous inventors in history, did poorly at school and was taught at home by his mother. He is said to have struggled with what is now known as dyslexia and dysgraphia. He invented more than 1,000 devices including the phonograph (record player), the lightbulb, the telephone and the motion-picture projector.
Louis Pasteur
Another historic scientist, Louis Pasteur made important contributions to science and life as we know it today. He discovered how germs cause disease in food spoiling and also discovered how to make vaccines from weakened microbes. He developed the earliest vaccines against fowl cholera, anthrax, and rabies. This was all while struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Daniel Radcliffe
Star of the Harry Potter movies, Daniel Radcliffe suffered from a lack of confidence as a child due to dyspraxia and dysgraphia. Handwriting continues to be a challenge to this day. However, he never let it define him and was introduced to acting to boost his confidence. He is now recognised worldwide and without doubt, the most famous of all wizards.
Agatha Christie
One of the most well-known authors of her time (and still today), Agatha Christie always found writing and spelling very difficult. She struggled with dysgraphia, which was so severe that she often couldn’t read her own writing or balance her own checkbook. However, her condition never stopped her from achieving anything and she has since become one of the most celebrated authors of all time.
Henry Winkler
Better known as ‘The Fonz’, Henry Winkler had a particularly difficult time at school because of dyslexia and dysgraphia. However, his determination to overcome his difficulties led to him becoming an icon on the small screen.
Tommy Hilfiger
Creative genius Tommy Hilfiger has struggled with reading and writing for most of his life and today is an advocate for dyslexia and very open about his struggles. He credits these learning difficulties with his success today as he saw creativity in everything. It can be a real benefit to see the world differently.
Cher
A world-famous singer and actress, Cher is another example of overcoming struggles and finding success. She dropped out of school because of undiagnosed dyslexia and dysgraphia which were finally diagnosed (along with AD/HD) when she was in her thirties.
Don’t let dysgraphia hold your child back
As you will see, dysgraphia need not be the reason why any child doesn’t succeed. It is obviously an obstacle – but one that can be overcome with a bit of hard work and determination. This list of famous people with dysgraphia is a testament to that.
As a parent, it is so hard to see our kids struggle. That is, in part, why I started this blog. To help other parents support their children at home and school with resources, information and advice. For more information on the symptoms of dysgraphia and how as a parent you can help, click here and for a list of the best apps for dysgraphia (online and offline) click here.
If you would like to contact me for any advice or information, you can contact me here. I’m always so happy to hear from you and will do all that I can to help!
this ispired my that people in the government have dysgraphia too!
Hi there… I’m so happy it inspired you. There’s no reason to let dysgraphia hold you back – it’s an obstacle which can be overcome! You can be anything you want to be!
My 11 years old son struggling with dysgraphia but he is very attentive in the class.
We’re worried a lot.
This gave us hope. Thank you so much.
Hi there, This is why awareness is so important. Without it, the teachers in schools won’t understand how to help, and parents won’t know how to support their child. Dysgraphia shouldn’t stop your son from chieving anything he wants to…
My daughter struggles with dysgraphia and I am lost on how to help. This shows me that she can succeed it will just take a little more work for her.
I’m so glad this has given you hope. My daughter also struggles with dysgraphia – you can see how painful it is for her to write even just a paragraph. There are so many ways to help… please do have a read over this site to find ways that would suit both of you at home – whether it’s playing games to strengthen her fine motor skills, using resources such as special paper, a writing board or pencil grips, or using technology such as speech to text, touch typing etc. to limit the amount she has to write.
Does your daughter’s school offer appropriate support?
Fell free to contact me if you’d like to discuss anything in more detail!
My 12 year old son has dysgraphia and is getting an award next week for making the Dean’s list for the second time this year in his school. His handwriting looks like a 1st or second grader, but our school district said it is nothing to worry about and does not reflect his intelligence. In fact, they didn’t even mention it to us in conferences when he was in elementary school. We were the one’s who brought it up to her. Not only is he on the Dean’s list with all As and one B (Social Studies), he is a wiz at solving 7 by 7 Rubick’s Cubes. Don’t worry about their hand writing.
I have succeeded greatly. I’ve never felt like it’s something that I need to change about myself. Bloody brilliant. Stop making people feel like it needs changing.
Hi. My son hand writing not good his father always says you daily writing and im checking .also he not have confidence. But he have alot knowledge history he is intelligent…but his farther too much pressure to her..what can I do?
Hi there, there are so many ways to overcome bad handwriting – even if he struggles with dysgraphia. Please read through this blog and also consider programs such as TTRS (https://bit.ly/47NkQsL) which is the best touch typing course in my opinion and will take away the stress of having to have perfect handwriting.
Putting too much pressure on your child could however cause stress and anxiety.
It’s important to remember that poor handwriting skills won’t stop your child from achieving anything they want to, especially in this age of technology. There are so many apps and programs to overcome bad handwriting.
Just found out my grandson has dysgraphia had never heard of it until now but I know something was going on… this made him smile to know he can do & be whatever he chooses
You gave us Hope ! Will be optimistic always. Thank you !!
I’m so glad this post has given you hope. Thank you for letting me know!
I couldn’t stop my tears while reading this blog. Thank you so much Rachel. My 4 year old son has dysgraphia. We’re from India and there is less awareness in schools, making it harder for me. You gave me hope again. Thanks a ton .
I’m so happy to hear this. There is so much that we can help our children with.
Just found out today my son has Dysgraphia, alongside ADHD and Dyslexia (which we found out in 2019).
He’s 11, and in y6, we’re currently going through the whole
11+ thing. His school haven’t even considered this, and I feel hugely let down, for him. I can see how much he’s struggled with their demands of creative writing more creative writing more more more. It’s sucked the joy out of learning, and I only hope we’ll find the best secondary for him, somewhere where they have the best understanding.
Am so glad and thankful I found your blog, I really am.
🙏🏼
And to all the other parents out there, who like me have got another educational psychologist report, our children are more than just numbers and scores. These little people are so special, and need us to advocate as much as possible. X
Hi there and thank you for your comment and feedback. I feel your frustration, pain and worry!
One of the reasons I set up my blog was because of the lack of information available for parents. My daughter’s school understood dyslexia – although by no means offered enough support – however, they had no idea about dysgraphia and she never got the support she needed. The more research I did, the more I understood that far more awareness is needed within schools – specifically about dysgraphia.
There are so many ways to support them and help them overcome the many obstacles, however so many schools seem to believe that handwriting practice is the key – whereas all that actually does is cause physical pain, anxiety and crushes confidence.
I hope your son’s school starts to understand how best to help him. With the professional diagnosis and the report from the educational phychologist, he should be able to access certain accomodations from the school such as extra time in exams, oral assessments instead of written ones, grading not based on handwriting etc.
Best of luck and please let me know how you get on… and feel free to share the dysgraphia articles with his teachers and other educators. You’re right, it’s up to us to advocate for them…
Thankyou for this information.. my 10 year old son has facing dysgraphia and my son’s teacher was told him he is a dunk and waste fellow. When he was sad that time I shared this with him. He is happy now.. thankyou once again
Hi there, I’m so sorry to hear that your son’s teacher clearly doesn’t know anything about dysgraphia. It’s so important to raise awareness and to educate those who educate our children. I’m glad he had some comfort from this article. Dysgraphia should not stop him from being anything he wants to be and I hope he can start to realise this.
Famous people are always a great way to help children feel better about themselves. Seems more tangible and exciting – especially when it is Harry Potter! Also it gives me hope that
my child can succeed. Hope is very powerful!
Hope is indeed very powerful and that’s why it’s so important to raise awareness so our kids understand that their dyslexia shouldn’t stop them from being anything they want to be…
My son is highly intelligent with a very gifted mind. He struggles with ADHD, Dysgraphia, Tourettes and anxiety. This was very inspiring to me. I’m going to share this list of successful people with him. He’s a huge Harry Potter fan, so I’m excited for him to see even this actor had his same struggle. Thank you!😊
I’m really sorry to hear of your son’s struggles. It’s so important for kids to see that their role models can overcome similar issues and I really hope the list has helped him see that he’s not alone and has lifted his confidence.
I am both Dyslexic and have Dysgraphia – two of my greatest gifts in life, It was really hard to understand that when I was in school but now as the CEO of an international cyber security and IT services company I can see how lucky I am to have both of these.
Hi Liam, thanks for this. As CEO of your own cyber security company, you’re another inspiration for kids with dyslexia/dysgraphia. There’s no need for it to hold anyone back. I know my daughter sees the world differently – far more vividly and colourful than I ever could – and I hope as she grows she too will see this as a gift, not a hurdle.
My son, at 15, was just diagnosed with both dyslexia and dysgraphia. He is very discouraged right now. I’m trying my hardest to encourage him, support him, and help him see that this is ok. He is so intelligent and I have the utmost confidence that he will do wonderful things. Thank you so much for this article, it’s really helped.
All you can do is encourage him. Being 15 is hard at the best of times but to have a new diagnosis will be difficult for him to process.
However, the world is changing so quickly and there’s no need to for him to continue to struggle. There are speech to text options, audiobooks, e-reader pens and so much more. Please take a look at some of my articles and see if they help. He will see the world differently and right now in this new technological world, it’s seeing the world differently that is helping people to thrive!
Good luck with your journey…