How Dyslexia Can Become a Cognitive Advantage: Rethinking How We Learn

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I speak with Russell Van Brocklen, a New York State-funded dyslexia researcher whose own educational journey challenges traditional assumptions about learning ability.Russell struggled to read and write until law school, where he unexpectedly discovered that his dyslexia gave him a unique cognitive advantage. This experience led him to develop teaching methods that help students with dyslexia and other learning differences dramatically improve reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.We explore how the dyslexic brain processes language differently, why traditional education methods often fail neurodiverse learners, and how structured writing and interest-based learning can significantly accelerate academic progress. Russell shares real case studies, including students who advanced multiple grade levels in reading and writing within months.We also discuss how these approaches can reshape how we think about intelligence, learning differences, and educational support more broadly.In Part 2, we explore how these methods can be replicated across schools, teachers, and education systems, and what they reveal about neurodiversity and different ways people think and learn. With thanks to Russell for this interview. To learn more go to:https://dyslexiaclasses.com/Support the show