Shawn Anthony Robinson’s journey to overcoming dyslexia and his award-winning series of graphic novels was spotlighted in a recent story from Wisconsin Public Radio.
After struggling to read through his middle and high school years, Robinson was diagnosed with dyslexia before his senior year, the article reports. The diagnosis, Robinson says, was “life changing” because it allowed him to receive proper instruction.
That, he adds, meant he could “compete, survive (and) navigate through” his future education path.
Robinson says it wasn’t until his freshman year in college at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh that he really learned to read, after joining Project Success — a remedial program for students with dyslexia and other learning or attentional disabilities.
Robinson went on earn his PhD in language and literacy, and he is now a research affiliate with UW–Madison’s Wisconsin Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB), housed in the School of Education’s Wisconsin Center for Education Research. He is also a co-author with his wife of the semi-autobiographical “Dr. Dyslexia Dude” series of graphic novels, which share a compelling story about an African-American boy who is a colorful superhero with dyslexia.
While Robinson had written for peer-reviewed publications, he wanted his work to have a broader audience.
“I wanted to do something that was going to have a long-lasting impact and be able to reach the youth about, not just what dyslexia is, but how to maybe deal with it day-to-day and overcome it,” he says. “So, my wife and I were like, ‘Let’s try to turn some of your research into graphic novels.’”
The “Dr. Dyslexia Dude” books have recognition from the Wisconsin Innovation Awards and the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts in New York.
Robinson also appeared on WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show” with Bill Kitz, who ran Project Success when Robinson was a student, to discuss their journeys and share insights about learning disabilities and helping students or adults overcome them.