Welcome to episode 45 of the Designing with Love podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Russell Van Brocklen, The Dyslexic Professor.

What if everything we thought we knew about dyslexia was backward? Russell Van Brocklin, the self-described "dyslexic professor," turns conventional wisdom on its head with a revolutionary approach that's changing lives and saving families thousands of dollars in specialized education costs.
With what specialists called "the worst case of dyslexia they'd ever seen," Russell shocked law professors by excelling in complex Socratic debates despite testing at a first-grade reading level. This paradox led him to a groundbreaking realization: dyslexia isn't fundamentally a reading problem but an organizational challenge that manifests in reading difficulties. By studying brain scans of dyslexic individuals, he discovered that while certain areas showed minimal activity, other regions were hyperactive, presenting not just challenges, but untapped strengths.
Russell's methodology produced remarkable results in a New York State Senate-funded program. His three-part approach starts with students' special interests (whether Disney, Theodore Roosevelt, or Ford trucks), teaches from specific to general rather than the reverse, and builds writing skills through simple, effective sentence structures that grow in complexity.
The approach is particularly relevant in today's AI-driven world, where dyslexic individuals can leverage technology to handle mechanical aspects of writing while their unique cognitive strengths – often superior to neurotypical peers in analysis and creativity – shine through. It's not about fixing what's broken, but harnessing what's extraordinary.

🔗Website and Social Links

Please visit Russell’s website and social media links below.

Russell Van Brocklen’s Website

Russell’s Facebook Page

Russell’s Instagram Page

Russell’s LinkedIn Page

Russell’s YouTube Channel

🆓Free Resource: The 3 Reasons Your Child’s Dyslexia Education Isn’t Working – And How to Fix It

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