--- title: 'Video: The journey from a kid with writing issues to a professional writer and speaker' description: Hear from Ronnie Sidney on how he went from being a struggling student facing a double stigma to inspiring the next generation. slug: video-the-journey-from-a-kid-with-writing-issues-to-a-professional-writer-and-speaker author: The Understood Team published: '2019-08-05T15:58:03.957Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/30AD0F3C880F4EA08B19F5C1D4D5C8A9/d0e42ff5fa554794c7971b6aac51f9d7/120116_Video-_The_Journey_From_a_Kid_With_Writing_Issues_to_a_Professional_Writer_and_Speaker.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-the-journey-from-a-kid-with-writing-issues-to-a-professional-writer-and-speaker lang: en --- # Video: The journey from a kid with writing issues to a professional writer and speaker Ronnie Sidney faced a double stigma: being an African American child with learning and thinking differences. His [dysgraphia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-dysgraphia) and [ADHD](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-adhd) made it difficult for him to write and focus. Today, Ronnie has a master’s degree in social work (MSW), is a published author, and regularly gives speeches to young kids, inspiring them to overcome their own challenges. How did he get here? Hear the inspiring story from Ronnie himself, his supportive parents, and the [special education teacher](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/special-education-teachers-guide-for-parents) who turned his school experience around. [![Video](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/30AD0F3C880F4EA08B19F5C1D4D5C8A9/d0e42ff5fa554794c7971b6aac51f9d7/120116_Video-_The_Journey_From_a_Kid_With_Writing_Issues_to_a_Professional_Writer_and_Speaker.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/embed/pAo9rTyYV3I) --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-the-journey-from-a-kid-with-writing-issues-to-a-professional-writer-and-speaker#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-the-journey-from-a-kid-with-writing-issues-to-a-professional-writer-and-speaker","description":"Hear from Ronnie Sidney on how he went from being a struggling student facing a double stigma to inspiring the next generation."},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-the-journey-from-a-kid-with-writing-issues-to-a-professional-writer-and-speaker","name":"Video: The journey from a kid with writing issues to a professional writer and speaker"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-08-05T15:58:03.957Z","description":"Hear from Ronnie Sidney on how he went from being a struggling student facing a double stigma to inspiring the next generation.","headline":"Video: The journey from a kid with writing issues to a professional writer and speaker","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-the-journey-from-a-kid-with-writing-issues-to-a-professional-writer-and-speaker","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```