Can a learning-disabled person get into Harvard?

Answer 1

Not likely, learning disabled means your grades won't be high enough. It wouldn't be discrimination, simply failure to meet the minimum academic requirements.

Answer

I must add, that the tag "Learning Disabled" is a basket term covering a variety of cause

and affect factors. Because you have been labeled Learning Disabled does not mean Learning

Disabled for life. There are many individuals who have overcome their circumstances to

attain positions of greatness in life.

Look at the below examples:

Successful People with Learning Disabilities and/or AD/HD

Consider the following four dead-end kids. One was spanked by his teachers for bad grades

and a poor attitude. He dropped out of school at 16. Another failed remedial English and

came perilously close to flunking out of college. The third feared he'd never make it

through school--and might not have without a tutor. The last finally learned to read in

third grade, devouring Marvel comics, whose pictures provided clues to help him untangle the

words. These four losers are, respectively, Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, John Chambers,

and David Boies.

ARTISTS & ARTISANS

Chuck Close is one of the nation's most celebrated contemporary artists.

Andrew Dornenberg, an award-winning chef, says that cooking "saved" him.

[new]Sculptor Robert Graham struggled with dyslexia. His wife, actress Anjelica Huston explains, "Robert didn't realize he had a form of dyslexia until his own son was diagnosed. But Robert's artistic gift immeasurably outstripped his difficulty."

Tommy Hilfiger is an internationally-known fashion designer.

Robert Rauschenberg is a multi-media artist who has had significant influence in the world of modern art and has even been called the "Picasso of the 21st Century."

Mackenzie Thorpe, world-famous painter, urges people at an exhibit of his work to "stop looking with your eyes and see with your feelings."

Acclaimed artist Robert Toth has paintings, sculptures, and bronzes on display in museums throughout the world, including the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Acclaimed artist Willard Wigan is the creator of the smallest works of art on earth. He is emerging as the most celebrated micro-miniaturist of all time.

ATHLETES

Billy Blanks, world class martial artist and television and movie actor, has created a foundation to promote self-sufficiency among high-risk women and children.

Terry Bradshaw, former NFL quarterback, now host of Fox's NFL pre-game show, recently wrote a book in which he reveals that he has AD/HD.

Scott Eyre, San Francisco Giants pitcher, was diagnosed with AD/HD at 30.

Cammi Granato is a two-time Olympian in ice hockey and a U.S. National Women's Team member since 1990.

Bruce Jenner, 1976 gold medalist in the Olympic decathlon, is described as the "World's Greatest Athlete."

Chris Kaman is the center for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers.

Hank Kuehne, PGA star, used golf as an escape from his troubles at school.

Mike Lorenz is a lineman for the New England Patriots.

Greg Louganis received an Olympic gold medal in diving in the 1984 and 1988 games and advocates for AIDS awareness.

John E. Morgan, PGA champion, was bullied as a kid because of his learning disabilities.

Jim Shea, Jr. earned a gold medal competing in the skeleton (a small sled) event at the 2002 Winter Olympics, making him the first third-generation Winter Olympian in U.S. history.

Neil Smith, NFL professional football player, is defensive end for the San Diego Chargers.

Jackie Stewart is a race car driving champion who has been inducted into the Grand Prix Hall of Fame.

Stan Wattles is an up-and-coming race car driver in the Indy Racing League.

BUSINESS LEADERS

Richard Branson is an enormously successful entrepreneur and founder of 150 enterprises that carry the Virgin name, such as Virgin Airlines.

John T. Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, has revolutionized the technology industry and is recognized as one of the most fascinating business leaders of our times.

Barbara Corcoran, founder of one of New York City's largest residential real estate agencies, recently authored Use What You' ve Got & Other Business Lessons I Learned from my Mom.

[new]Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish founder and chairman of IKEA stores, claims he adapted the inner workings of his business to compensate for his dyslexia.

David Neeleman founder and CEO of Jet Blue Airways, started his first airline while he was still in college.

Paul Orfalea is the founder and chairperson of Kinko's, an international, billion-dollar copy service company.

Charles Schwab is the founder, chairperson, and CEO of the Charles Schwab Corporation, the largest brokerage firm in the U.S.

Diane Swonk is Senior Managing Director and Chief Economist for Chicago based Mesirow Financial, one of the nation's largest banks.

James Levoy Sorenson is a Utah entrepreneur who brings his talents to a wide range of ventures.

Donald Winkler, CEO of Ford Motor Credit, has inspired businesses to overcome obstacles to success. He actively supports individuals with LD.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATES & ACTIVISTS

Erin Brockovich, inspiration for the movie of the same name, now serves as Director of Environmental Research at the law offices of Masry & Vititoe.

Dexter Scott King, son of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is President and CEO of The King Center in Atlanta, GA. His memoir, Growing Up King, was published in 2003.

Valli Kugler, Miss Tennessee 2002, who set up a summer camp for children with learning disabilities (LD) when she was a student at the University of Tennessee, used the pageant as a platform to increase understanding of LD.

Kelly McCorkle, legislative correspondent for Representative Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), is a former Miss South Carolina who made learning disabilities part of her pageant platform.

ENTERTAINERS & CELEBRITIES

Princess Beatrice of England, daughter of Prince Andrew and fifth in line to the throne, speaks out about dyslexia.

Daniel Bedingfield, British pop star/composer, recorded his first hit record in his bedroom.

Singer Tony Bennett, best known for his hits Rags to Riches, Fly Me to the Moon, and I Left My Heart in San Francisco is a 2005 Kennedy Center honoree and the recipient of 12 Grammy Awards.

Orlando Bloom, the popular English actor, played Legolas, the elf warrior in the film, Lord of the Rings.

Cher, an Academy Award-winning actress, is also well-known for her pop music and 1970s hit TV variety show. (Source: Barbara Walters Special excerpted in Everybody Has a Song, 2001.)

Patrick Dempsey's 20-year acting career includes leads in the recent films Sweet Home Alabama and Scream 3. He currently stars in the television medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Danny Glover, acclaimed actor of theatre and film, has used his celebrity status to advance many community programs and worthy causes, such as AIDS awareness in South Africa and the advancement of minority youth. (Source: On a Roll - Talk Radio about Life and Disability, October 29, 1999)

Whoopi Goldberg is an actress and comedian who has used her stardom to raise money to eliminate homelessness.

Brian Grazer, successful producer of movies such as A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 recalls his personal struggle with dyslexia. (Source: Christian Science Monitor, January 4, 2002.)

Actor Woody Harrelson rose to fame as Woody on TV's hit series, Cheers. His movie career includes many starring roles and an Academy Award nomination.

Salma Hayek is a Mexican-born actress who co-produced and starred in the film Frida, about artist Frida Kahlo.

English film actress Keira Knightley, starred in Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean, and played the role of Guinevere in a new King Arthur film.

Jay Leno is a popular comedian and late-night talk show host.

Brad Little, star of the Cincinnati production of Phantom of the Opera, also works to preserve African wildlife.

Jamie Oliver, Britain's "Naked Chef", whose programs appears on the Food Network, is known for his lively personality and easy-to-prepare recipes.

Edward James Olmos is a celebrated actor, entrepreneur, and activist who supports and advocates for Latino culture in the U.S.

Joe Pantoliano, television actor in The Sopranos, survived life on the streets as a kid.

Suzanne Somers is an actress and Las Vegas entertainer who has also become a successful entrepreneur.

Vince Vaughn is a movie actor who was featured in The Break-Up, Wedding Crashers, Thumbsucker.

Lindsay Wagner, most famous for her title role on the hit 1970s TV series Bionic Woman, has dedicated much of her time to raising awareness about learning difficulties.

Henry Winkler, also known as "The Fonz" from the hit TV series Happy Days, is a producer, author, Yale graduate, and children's advocate.

EXPLORERS & ADVENTURERS

Ann Bancroft, an honoree in the National Women's Hall of Fame, was the first woman to travel to the North Pole and lead an all-woman dog-sled team to the South Pole.

LEGAL & POLITICAL FIGURES

David Boies, a runner-up in 2000 for Time Magazine's Man of the Year, is a prestigious lawyer involved in high-profile cases.

[new]James Carville, is one of America's most famous political consultants. According to E. Clarke Ross, CEO of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), "Mr. Carville is perhaps one of the best-known people in Washington, and he lives with AD/HD." Carville is also an author, restaurateur, and co-host of radio and television shows. Today he concentrates on international political and corporate consulting.

Gavin Newsom is the youngest mayor of San Francisco in 100 Years.

Nelson Rockefeller served as governor of New York for 12 years and as Vice President of the United States under Gerald Ford.

Peter Wright is an attorney and advocate who represents children with special educational needs.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Harvey Cushing, M.D. (1869-1939) a world renowned neurosurgeon, had dyslexia.

Helen Taussig, M.D. (1898-1986) This successful cardiologist struggled with dyslexia, which made school difficult for her. Even so, she graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Delos Cosgrove, M.D. is a cardiothoracic surgeon, inventor of several medical devices, and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. He says, "I didn't know I was dyslexic until I was 33 years old. I went all the way through medical school without knowing it."

MUSICIANS

Harry Belafonte is a famous African American singer, actor, entertainer and political activist who, even into his seventies, uses his position as a celebrity to promote human rights worldwide.

Jon Finn is active in the music business as a musician, songwriter, and engineer/producer.

Stephan Jenkins, is a former University of California at Berkeley valedictorian and the singer-songwriter for Third Eye Blind, a rock group with two platinum albums to its credit.

Jewel is a young pop-music sensation who recently wrote an autobiography of her life growing up in Alaska.

Bob Weir, guitarist and vocalist, formerly with The Grateful Dead, is now bandleader of RatDog.

SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, & TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS

Engineer and inventor William "Bill" Hewlett (1913-2001) co-founded with David Packard the Hewlett-Packard Company in 1939, which became the second-largest computer company in the world.

Dr. John (Jack) Horner is a famous paleontologist, or dinosaur expert, who advised Steven Spielberg on films such as Jurassic Park and The Lost World.

Don Johnston, CEO of Don Johnston, Inc. His mission is to support diverse learners with proven instructional models, effective literacy strategies, and innovative technologies to help them reach grade-level performance..

John Roberts, CEO and co-founder of SugarCRM, is seen as a pioneer in commercial open-source software applications that businesses use for tasks such as managing sales and keeping track of customers.

Richard Rogers, one of Britain's most-admired architects, is known for his many stunning buildings and his pioneering views on sustainable cities.

Bill Wilson, fire investigator with a "seventh sense," has a reputation for solving the unsolvable in car crash mysteries.

WRITERS & MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

Avi, is the award winning author of more than 50 books for children and young adults.

Robert Benton, a three-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director, still finds reading and writing laborious.

Gareth Cook is a Pulitzer Prize winning science writer for the Boston Globe newspaper.

Stephen J. Cannell is a successful novelist and an Emmy Award-winning TV writer and producer who has created or co-created over 40 different shows.

Anderson Cooper is a CNN news anchor who gained public attention for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina.

John Dunning is a Denver mystery writer who's also a bookstore proprietor.

Fannie Flagg is a writer and actor who is most famous for her novel Fried Green Tomatoes which was later produced as a movie.

Richard Ford is an author who won both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for his novel, Independence Day in 1996 - a first in the literary world. (Source: Newsday, March 20, 2002)

Jackie French is the author of numerous kids' books, as well as books about gardening and Australian history.

Terry Goodkind is the author of 8 best-selling fantasy novels.

John Irving is a novelist and screenplay writer of World According to Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, and Cider House Rules, a movie that recently won acclaim and award nominations.

[new]Poet Richard Moore has struggled with dyslexia all his life, yet it hasn't kept him from doing what he loves. A graduate of Yale University, he has published a novel, a book of literary criticism, and 12 books of poetry - the first of which, A Question of Survival, earned him a Pulitzer Prize nomination in the 1970s.

Patricia Polacco, prolific children's author and illustrator, didn't learn to read until she was 14.

Victor Villaseñor is a Mexican-American author who has written 9 novels, 65 short stories, and a critically-acclaimed screenplay.

Art Rodriguez is a California author who documents his challenging childhood in children's and young adult books.

Atoosa Rubenstein, who has dyslexia, was successful as the editor in chief of Seventeen magazine. Today she has her own digital business and a consulting firm advising companies how to speak to the teen market.

Writer and playwright Wendy Wasserstein (1950-2006) won multiple awards for her play, The Heidi Chronicles, including the Pulitzer Prize.

Ahmet Zappa, son of the late rock musician, Frank Zappa, has authored the first book in a planned trilogy of monster stories.

Now, it will may take some hard work, with some good mentors. but I am a firm believer that you can accomplish great things if it is really in your heart to do so. You may have heard this saying, "10% Apptitude, 90% Attitude.

In the Marine Corps we had a saying Attitude is everything! So, go for it!!!

Some of the above was retrieved from http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=258#politicians

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