Winston Center will observe normal opening hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on Presidents Day, Feb. 15. In honor of the holiday, we salute five U.S. presidents who overcame learning challenges:

  • George Washington struggled with spelling and grammar; it’s widely believed he had dyslexia. Despite this challenge, he was unanimously elected as our nation’s first president.
  • Thomas Jefferson stuttered and probably had dyslexia. Even so, he loved to read, authored the Declaration of Independence and became our third president.
  • At ten years old, Woodrow Wilson could barely read due to some form of dyslexia. He found ways to navigate the condition, becoming our 28th president and winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 1919.
  • John F. Kennedy had some form of dyslexia as well as ADHD (these conditions often manifest together), but this didn’t stop JFK from attending Harvard and becoming the 35th president in 1960.
  • Ronald Reagan had severe sight and hearing impediments, requiring him to sit at the front of the classroom as a child. Still, he served as the governor of California and, later, president.

These individuals are all glowing examples of overcoming steep obstacles to achieve greatness. Theodore Roosevelt (who also had vision impairment) summed it up well: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.