Space Scientist 🚀 Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock on Dyslexia

Growing up, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock went to 13 different schools and felt she was thought of as “the dumb black kid, stuck at the back of class with the safety scissors and the glue”.

But her Dyslexic Thinking helped her to not just think outside the box, but to think outside the planet. And her different way of thinking helped her to work on the world’s largest space telescope – the James Webb Telescope, and see what had never been seen. Kate finds out why she thinks everyone should have a crazy dream, how schools need to change the things they measure and how it felt to have a Barbie doll made of her! Powerful stories | Experts in Dyslexic Thinking | Inspiring dyslexics

DYSLEXIA FACTS

  • Prevalence. Dyslexia is estimated to affect approximately 10-20% of people worldwide, though many cases remain undiagnosed​ or misdiagnosed.

  • Overlapping Conditions: Around 30% of individuals with dyslexia also have ADHD, creating both challenges and opportunities for unique cognitive strengths​.

  • Gender Differences. While boys are more often diagnosed, research shows dyslexia affects boys and girls equally. Girls may be under-diagnosed due to subtler symptoms.

  • Undiagnosed Potential: 30-50% of prison inmates are estimated to have dyslexia, and 35% of dyslexics drop out of high school, emphasizing the importance of early intervention to change life outcomes​.

Creative Leaders.

About 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic, highlighting a connection between dyslexia, creativity, and leadership​. It is estimated that dyslexics are 50% of NASA rocket scientists and 40% of self-made millionaires.