The 'D' Word

Dyslexia, (ironically a word I constantly have to look up how to spell) is a specific learning difficulty, which is said to affect at least 1 in 10 people (Yale university studies). According to the British Dyslexia Association

'...Dyslexia is a combination of abilities and difficulties that affect the learning process in one or more of reading, spelling and writing.' Dyslexia is often widely misunderstood as meaning that you are somehow unintelligent, or one I hear often, is that it is purely just a cop out, and does not exist, a made up psychology tale. However it can occur at any level of intellectual ability, well hey if Einstein is part of the gang I would hate to dispute that fact. 

Dyslexic people are said to have strengths in visual and spatial abilities, original thought and creativity, enabling them to be successful in a wide range of careers. Some successful artists and design creative’s who are dyslexic are Leonardo da Vinci, Auguste Rodin, Terence Woodgate, David Bailey and Tomacz Starzewski. The Dyslexia Arts Trust aims to ‘draw attention to the high creative potential of the many visually-dominant dyslexic minds’. Richard Branson whom is the epitome of entrepreneurship speaks openly in the quest to help others, “Being dyslexic can actually help in the outside world. I see some things clearer than other people do because I have to simplify things to help me and that has helped others.” Dyslexics may often attempt the most difficult solution in regards to speed, detail and organisation of information but they are often regarded as excellent at analysis and reasoning.

Looking at my screen now I have at least a dozen red fuzzy lines scattered throughout this document alone, although always with the distinct knowledge that I have awful spelling ability I had never considered myself as possibly being dyslexic. Throughout school I would always get picked up for my spellings with massive red rings round made up words. There is a theme building here with the symbolic red, red as in wrong, red as in danger, so used to seeing these markings I think I became immune, I just tended to struggle through. To be fair I didn’t even do half bad although always excelling in the creative side, the “less academic subjects” as my Dad called them. My school was slack to acknowledge that dyslexia even existed although a possible 10% of the pupils were probably suffering with some sort of learning difficulty.

When I reached further education a tutor suggested I should get myself tested after reading an essay of mine. Well last year I did infact get tested as having ‘severe’ dyslexia, serve I thought was being a bit harsh although when I explained to an assessor that even spellchecker does not even know what I am trying to say, she had a concerning look on her face. Since then I have had to embrace this tag that is now attached to me, and honestly I am still not certain whether I prefer knowing or to reminisce of the oblivious life I lead before.

Never did I think that being termed dyslexic would hugely impact on my life as it now has, I was under the impression that I just was bad at spelling that’s it. I may sound like I am being slightly melodramatic, and boy many times I notice the discerning glances of ‘oh just get over it’, but it has become so apparent to me that it just conflicts with tasks daily.

Artwork by Quan Do http://www.another.nu

While enduring the lengthy process of screening and assessments, which stretched over a 6-month span, it was brought to my attention my way of working and how I process information. Asked question like do I get confused between left and right and did I struggle to learn to tie my shoe laces were hitting the nail on the head while other where just so far flung. Being so closely inspected I was shown that my speed of reading is two times slower than that of a non-dyslexic. See I would have never notice or considered that before but now that its boldly pointed out to me, I see myself on the tube still examining the front page while others have been, done and read that page.

Also I feel like now I have to let people know of my disability, I hate that term, I feel like a fraud to say I’m suffering from a disability, yet I’m still unreserved to mention it without sounding like I’m bearing it as an excuse. It is sometimes embarrassing to admit to people, mainly due to the stigma attached to it. There was this one incident at work where I had misspelled a crucial link in an email which caused a few problems, and I felt that I wanted to mention my dyslexia to my manager so that she was aware but felt ashamed and when I did try to subtly drop it into conversation I felt that I it may sound like I was trying to get sympathy. Unable to pinpoint mistakes and often overlook them is becoming a bit of a fear of mine and tasks are taking double the time with me constantly re-reading and checking over all pieces. These blog posts for instance take a lot of time for me to just conceive one entry yet I’m sure you have all noticed regular mistakes throughout. I don’t want to shy away from displaying my writing as I do enjoy it and heck I once actually wanted to be a journalist until I realized it was kind of vital that you must know how to spell even without the help (or lack) of spellchecker facilities.

I do often wander if my frustrations are isolated and come across as slightly self-pitying but I am not going without saying that I have indeed received some amazing support to help alleviate the effects. I find some people quite dismissive to fantastic specialist teaching and equipment I have been provided with, I get treated as if I am claiming benefits which I am not entitled to, as if I am playing the system. Lets make this clear I pay taxes too and sometimes I just like to believe they may actually just be jealous because I have something they haven’t. 

Some great sites dedicates to the subject of dyslexia:

http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com

http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/

http://www.beingdyslexic.co.uk/