Jack Horner is known for major discoveries about dinosaur parenting, growth patterns, and fossil behavior. As a child, he struggled severely with dyslexia and found reading extremely difficult. He often performed poorly on tests and never completed a college degree.

How dyslexia hindered him:
Reading-heavy assignments, textbooks, and written exams created barriers. Traditional schooling didn't recognize his abilities, and he was discouraged from scientific careers because of his academic struggles.

How dyslexia helped him:
Horner excelled in visual thinking, hands-on work, and noticing patterns in bones and rocks that others missed. His ability to think creatively and see “the big picture” led to groundbreaking ideas that changed paleontology.

Why he matters:
Horner proves that success in science is not defined by reading speed or test scores — but by curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving.

Now that you’ve learned about the scientist, use the button below to explore a ProQuest Guided Research Topic related to their disability, learning difference, or way of thinking.

Read the information and add notes to your note-taker about:

• What the condition is

• Common challenges

• Common strengths

• Tools or strategies that support people with this difference

• How this topic relates to your scientist