Is Dyslexia Really A Disorder Or A Different Kind Of Intelligence? with Russell Van Brocklen

In this episode of Divine Decode, host Pragya sits down with dyslexia education innovator Russell Van Brocklen to challenge everything we think we know about “learning disorders”. Instead of framing dyslexia as a deficit, Russell breaks down how dyslexic brains are wired for high-level analysis, rapid pattern recognition and original problem-solving, especially in grad school and complex real-world work.

He walks us through his own journey from being labeled a first-grade reader in college to thriving in law school and building programs that move students from middle-school writing skills to graduate-level performance in a single school year. Russell explains why traditional K-12 systems are structurally stacked against neurodivergent students, how to design interventions that actually work, and how serious AI tools can multiply the strengths of dyslexic thinkers if used strategically rather than passively.

If you care about education, neurodiversity, or the future of work in an AI-heavy world, this conversation will push you to stop asking “How do we fix these kids” and start asking “How do we redesign the system to match the brain that is actually in front of us”

About The Guest:

Russell Van Brocklen is a dyslexia-focused educator and systems thinker who went from being officially tested at a first-grade reading and writing level in college to succeeding in law school using the Socratic method. Funded by the New York State Senate, he built intervention programs that took highly motivated dyslexic teens from middle-school writing to entering-graduate-student level in one school year at a fraction of typical special education costs.

Today he works directly with neurodivergent learners and their families, proving that when you teach to the dyslexic brain using specialization, specific-to-general thinking and structured writing, students not only “catch up” but often outperform their peers in higher education and complex professional environments.

Key Takeaways:

• Dyslexia is not a failure of effort. It is a mismatch between a back-of-the-brain school system and a front-of-the-brain neurodivergent wiring built for analysis and articulation.

• Russell’s law school story shows how the Socratic method activated his overactive frontal processing, letting everything finally “click” and revealing dyslexia as a real-world superpower.

• Effective intervention focuses on a student’s deep interests, teaches from the specific to the general and uses writing as a measurable output to force mental organization.

• Case studies like Casey and Reid prove that with the right method, students can gain years of reading and writing growth in months, avoiding retention and unnecessary special education placement.

• AI does not replace dyslexic thinkers. It acts as an intellectual power tool when used for deep research, context-problem-solution thinking and high-level questioning in a chosen specialty.

• The future belongs to people who can combine neurodivergent insight with professional AI tools, moving to senior-level problem solving within months instead of years.

How To Connect With Russell Van Brocklen:

Website: dyslexiaclasses.com Download free resources and book a complimentary 30-minute Zoom session with Russell.

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This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.

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