TAHLEQUAH — Comedian-juggler Paul Phariss knows all about overcoming adversity.

At just 6 years old, he survived a drowning incident, which led to severe brain damage.

“I had trouble reading,” Paul explained to nearly 230 children during Tuesday afternoon’s summer reading program at the Tahlequah Public Library.

His wife, Susan, said Paul actually died during the accident.

The lifeguard, the emergency medical technicians, and the emergency room doctor were all unable to resuscitate him. His parents were told they’d lost their boy.

“But when the coroner came in, he found a beating heart,” said Susan.

Paul didn’t learn to read in elementary school, but instead faced negativity from others, who called him “stupid” and “lazy.”

“I went through high school, and I still couldn’t read,” he said.

He was able to graduate on a fourth-grade reading level, but his life took a better turn when his church gave him a scholarship to attend the first college with a special program for good students with learning disabilities.

In college, he gave up trying to read.

“In fact, I didn’t learn how to read until I was 30 years old,” said Paul.

Adulthood forced him into what he called a “harsh reality.” Job choices were limited, and discrimination, he said, was plentiful. A college professor encouraged him to become a mime, and his miming instructor required students to learning how to juggle.

He grew interested in juggling, something he’d seen as a child when watching “The Ed Sullivan Show.” In particular, he remembers falling in love with a plate juggler.

“Juggling creates new brain cells,” said Paul.

Within 12 years, Paul had won a gold medal at the international juggling championships. With that came something even more exciting for him: He began to learn to read.

“It was correcting all the different parts of my brain that had been damaged,” he explained.

Paul has educated and entertained audiences across the world, and has been featured on PBS, CBS, FOX,  ESPN2, and national news broadcasts.

He is a one of only 11 certified consultants of Rhythmic Movement Training in both North and South America. By identifying primitive reflexes that have been retained since childhood – or acquired through trauma – he now helps children and adults overcome their learning disabilities.

“I’ve been working with kids long enough to know that you cannot tell a child what not to do,” he told the crowd. “What will they do? They’ll go right out there and do it. You need to tell them what they can do.”

Paul quickly taught four of the children to pass a spinning plate atop a pointy stick from one end of the line to the other. It took a couple of quick tries, and near completions, but they tried repeatedly until it worked.

“Now, do not go home and try to do this with your mom’s good China,” said Paul. “Go to Grandma’s house. She has the good stuff, and she’ll let you do anything!”

As an author and public speaker, Paul travels the globe, explaining that learning disabilities are “no one’s fault.” He said learning disabilities, behavioral issues and poor coordination can all be overcome through just 15 minutes a day of simple-yet-specific movements.

His book, “Have a Ball Learning,” is for parents and teachers who want to help kids with learning disabilities improve their reading and concentration by exercising the brain through juggling.

Susan said the adult teaching the child doesn’t have to know how to juggle to be successful.

“If you can’t juggle, you can still teach your child to juggle,” she said.

Check it out

Paul Phariss’ website, www.HaveaBallLearning.com, includes links to scientific research linking brain power to juggling, as well as success stories, a blog, and more information on Phariss’ services.

What’s next

The Tahlequah Public Library summer reading program continues  Tuesday, June 22, at 1 p.m. with ventriloquist Dennis Lee. For more information, visit www.tahlequah .lib.ok.us or call (918) 456-2581 ext. 22.