In 2021 Kelly Ripa, the Live with Kelly and Ryan host, revealed her joy as her youngest son Joaquin was accepted to college in Michigan on a wrestling scholarship. And although any mother would be bursting with pride to see their child so successfully fly the nest, the moment was all the more poignant for the American star, married to actor Mark Consuelos, because Joaquin suffers from severe dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that makes reading and spelling tricky. The Yale Centre for Dyslexia and Creativity suggests that it affects 20 per cent of the American population. Dysgraphia affects fine motor skills, and those with the condition may struggle in particular with language processing and turning their thoughts into writing.
Kelly has spoken openly about her son’s diagnosis. Her positive glass-half-full attitude shines through. On her Live with Kelly and Ryan show in 2021 she explained: “I always say that dyslexia – for our family at least and if you read about it – can be quite a blessing. People panic in real-time because they don’t understand it. It’s a much often misunderstood learning difference. But kids with dyslexia learn how to read the room. They pick up on social cues and signals.”
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And there are other celebrities who suffer from dyslexia who are seeking to use their platform to spread awareness about the condition and remove the stigma that all too often surrounds it. Cher, the international pop superstar, received her diagnosis in her 30s. She has spoken about how it was a lightbulb moment. Her difficulties reading finally made sense. And the condition hasn’t held her back – far from it. In 1985, she disclosed how she dealt with it: “The brain has a way of compensating. I read my scripts very, very slowly, but I memorise them almost immediately. Now, my problem is only annoying more than anything else.”
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden is also dyslexic. He spoke at the World Dyslexia Assembly Sweden in April last year. The British royal Princess Beatrice, eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York and fellow dyslexia sufferer, was in the audience. During his speech Carl Philip said: “Not long ago, people with dyslexia were often considered stupid. Or lazy. Or both. Today, we know better. We know that dyslexia is so much more than having difficulties with reading or writing. That dyslexia can also be associated with qualities such as creativity, the ability to see patterns and strong problem-solving skills. Skills that are highly valuable in many areas.”
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