Dyslexia: As a dyslexic thinker myself, I really appreciated Sherri Helvie’s piece in the Los Angeles Times (“Jokes about Newsom’s dyslexia reveal harmful, persistent myth,” April 14).
Too often, dyslexia is still seen as a limitation rather than what it really is: a different way of thinking and, in many cases, a superpower. At school, I struggled with the traditional education system and was often told I wouldn’t amount to much, which is why I left at 16 to start my first business. In reality, I simply learned differently, and that difference has shaped everything I’ve gone on to build.
My dyslexia has helped me spot opportunities others miss, connect ideas in new ways and challenge industries that feel set in their ways. Creativity, problem solving, communication and adaptability are skills many dyslexic people naturally excel in. They are exactly the kinds of skills the world needs more of today, especially as AI transforms how we work.
When we launched Virgin Voyages, I had no experience in the cruise industry. But my different way of thinking helped us reimagine what a cruise could be. Last week, Virgin Voyages sailed out of Los Angeles, a place that celebrates doing things differently, for the first time.
As a child, I remember watching the moon landing in awe, dreaming about what might be possible. Years later, I found myself looking back at Earth from space with Virgin Galactic. Moments like that remind me why it is so important that we encourage young people to dream big and not let others define their limits.
Through our partnership with Made By Dyslexia, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when we help people understand and embrace these ways of thinking.
Dyslexia has never held me back. The real challenge is not dyslexia itself, but the systems and attitudes that still underestimate it. When we better support different skillsets, we unlock far greater potential for everyone.
Helvie’s work with students shows what is possible when we get this right. If we continue to invest in teachers, in understanding and in environments where all kinds of learning are supported, I am optimistic that the next generation will grow up with far fewer limits placed on them and far greater belief in what they can achieve.
Richard Branson
This writer is the founder of Virgin Group.
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To the editor: Thank you for printing Helvie’s excellent op-ed advocating for students with disabilities.
I learned I had a disability at age 39 while attending my last class to earn my teaching credential. I was unable to read in the sixth grade, but I got a one-on-one reading teacher for almost two years. I never forgot the teachers who believed in me. Helvie is exactly right to advocate for students with all sorts of learning issues who can still learn at very high levels if given a chance.
It is wrong for any adult to mock anyone with learning disabilities and to make excuses instead of finding solutions for students who want to learn all they can. Public schools need to have all the resources of private schools to provide excellent instruction for the 15% of students who may have learning disabilities.
David Dillard, Los Angeles