“The West Texas A&M University Center for Learning Disabilities (CLD) welcomes special guest Henry Winkler in a presentation titled “A Celebration of Extraordinary Minds” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the Amarillo Civic Center. Winkler’s talk will shed light on overcoming adversities in traditional education systems.
In 2013, the CLD was established as “a center for excellence” by the Texas A&M University System after partnering with WTAMU to address the special education needs of students, parents and teachers. Organizers of CLD help enhance the awareness of learning difficulties by sharing educational strategies, tools and lectures on disabilities that include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADHD. More than that, they focus on empowering individuals and create opportunities for community collaboration.
“It can be hard to figure out what’s going on with your child when you see they’re not reaching their full potential. The CLD is about identifying a student’s needs, helping discover learning strategies and showing parents how to advocate for their kids,” Puff Niegos, chairwoman of the WTAMU CLD, said. “We sought out Henry Winkler because he understands what those kids are going through and how they can feel inadequate sometimes. It’s important for kids to see a model success story from someone who has overcome similar obstacles.”
Winkler, having spent more than four decades in the entertainment industry, has firsthand experience with educational challenges having struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia. In addition to being a New York Times best-selling author and embodying the iconic “Fonz” on the TV series Happy Days, Winkler is an advocate for children who learn differently.
“No matter how you learn, it has nothing to do with your brilliance,” Winkler said. “How you learn has nothing to do with how great you are because you have greatness inside of you. Your job is to find out what your gift is and what your contribution will be.”
Among many accolades for his life’s work in philanthropy, he also was awarded the Honorary Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from the Queen of England in recognition of his services to children with dyslexia and special education needs in 2011.
Proceeds of the event will benefit WTAMU’s Center for Learning Disabilities. For more information, please call 806-651-8240.”
-West Texas A&M University
