Former English and social studies teacher, turned best selling children's author, Rick Riordan (right), whose Percy Jackson character learns that his dyslexia and ADHD are actually the qualities that make him a demi-god.
Like the oral story telling tradition of the Greek myths, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books began as a story he told his son. It was a way to get his son, who has dyslexia, interested in stories and lead him to love reading.
Rick Riordan says he used the stories as an analogy for his son's dyslexia and ADHD and how they were the qualities that made him special, rather than a failure.
Rick Riordan says he regularly hears from students struggling at school who have been inspired by Percy Jackson, who himself struggles with academic work.
"They tell me they start thinking of themselves and their ADHD and dyslexia as a badge of honour rather than a disability. I've even have students that don't have a learning disability coming to me saying 'I love Percy Jackson, I wish I was dyslexic' "
Rick Riordan talks to Kathryn Ryan.
