Rick Riordan’s portrayal of Percy’s dyslexia was inspired by his own son, who has the condition. Riordan wanted to represent kids who might struggle in traditional learning environments but have unique abilities or strengths. By giving his hero dyslexia and ADHD, Riordan empowers kids with similar challenges, showing that these traits don’t define someone’s potential for greatness. By giving Percy dyslexia, Riordan is highlighting that what seems like a learning difficulty in one context can be a strength in another (like reading Ancient Greek).