Have you seen the movie Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief? (PG). Percy Jackson, hero of the movie and a series of Percy Jackson books, is a smart, creative kid with dyslexia and AD/HD. What a great role-model to have!
As Dr. Kenny Handelman (www.addadhdblog.com) says, “ This is the first time that we have a ’super hero’ with ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia.” And “This story has the power to change how kids with ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia view themselves.”
The movie will be released on DVD in late June and would be great for a family summer movie night! Here’s an excerpt from an interview with the author, whose own son was diagnosed with learning challenges:
“[D]yslexic/ADHD kids are creative, “outside-the-box” thinkers. They have to be, because they don’t see or solve problems the same way other kids do. In school, unfortunately, they are sometimes written off as lazy, unmotivated, rude, or even stupid. They aren’t. If they can get through their rough school years, they often go on to become very successful adults. Employers love them, because they come up with original, fresh ideas. Making Percy ADHD/dyslexic was my way of honoring the potential of all the kids I’ve known who have those conditions. It’s not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it’s the mark of being very, very talented. That’s what Percy discovers about himself in The Lightning Thief.”
Read more at: www.rickriordan.com
Helping younger kids see AD/HD in a positive light and feel good about themselves is an important job of parents and educators, and a job that AD/HD coaches working with this population take seriously. What makes you (or your child) feel good about AD/HD?