Trump mocked dyslexia. Here’s why he is wrong: ‘It’s not a weakness, it’s a strength’

A new animation voiced by Jeremy Irons and Liv Tyler is being released to combat negative attitudes towards dyslexia.

It comes after the research suggested current explanations for learning differences were leaving children feeling “hopeless”.

The move follows recent criticism of US President Donald Trump, who last month referred to California Governor Gavin Newsom as dyslexic and an “idiot”.

Mr. Newsom responded online: “To every child with a learning disability: Don’t let anyone – not even the president of the United States – bully you. Dyslexia is not a weakness. It is your strength.”

The Made By Dyslexia charity behind the film describes dyslexia as a “bright and different way of thinking” and argues it is a learning difference.

The survey of 5,000 people with dyslexia and their families, including 2,000 in the UK, found three-quarters felt online information over-emphasises difficulties and ignores strengths such as problem-solving and imagination.

90 percent believed that current definitions negatively affected the child’s belief in the future; 55 percent reported that terms such as “lifelong learning disorder” and “word blindness” caused despair, and 32 percent found them scary.

Three quarters of respondents also felt schools lacked understanding of the strengths associated with dyslexia.

The new animation, which has been in the works for more than a year and will premiere in London on Saturday, aims to rewrite “outdated narratives by highlighting that dyslexic brains process information differently”, campaigners said.

It tells the story of a young girl named Lola, who encounters a bleak picture of her future after searching the internet for information about dyslexia.

But that changes when he meets a dyslexic inventor who helps him discover the achievements of dyslexic people throughout history, including boxer Muhammad Ali and car giant Henry Ford.

Irons, who is the voice of the wise inventor in the short film, said people with dyslexia need access to information that will enable them to “understand their extraordinary powers.”

He said: “Coming from a family of creative dyslexics, I know how important it is to ensure that all dyslexic children understand their extraordinary powers.

“Throughout history, dyslexics have played a role in many of the world’s most important innovations, from the light bulb to the motor car.

“I am incredibly proud to be involved in this amazing project and hope everyone will support us in watching, sharing and reviewing the film so that millions of children and parents will find it at the top of their searches every year.”

13-year-old dyslexic actress Hope Day voices Lola in the animation. What is Dyslexia?He said: “There is so much on the internet that makes children and young people with dyslexia feel like there is something wrong with them.

“I discovered Made By Dyslexia when I was young and it helped me find what I was really good at.

“I realized that my creativity and passion for singing and dancing was due to my dyslexic thoughts. I wanted to be a part of this movie to help other kids see that being dyslexic gives you amazing powers.”

The charity hopes people who watch, like and share the film will help it rise to the top of search results, so that when children and parents look for information about dyslexia they will be “encountered an empowering story”.

Kate Griggs, the film’s executive producer and founder of the charity, said: “Every year millions of children search the internet to understand what dyslexia means for their future, but what they find often revolves around difficulty.

“When this is the first story a young person hears about their mind, their self-confidence can be undermined before they understand their strengths.

“This campaign is about changing that first impression. As a parent of a dyslexic child and the founder of Made By Dyslexia, I know how vital this is.

“By bringing a more balanced and empowering understanding of dyslexia to the top of the search, we can help young people see their confidence, talents and bright futures.”