It’s Dyslexia Awareness Week, and with many of the awareness events, we like to share the journeys of our incredible team who live with these conditions and give them a platform to help raise awareness. Dyslexia Awareness Week is no different.
I had the privilege of hearing about Courtney’s story as she bravely opened up about her experiences, offering a glimpse into the challenges she encounters in the workplace and beyond due to dyslexia. Her answers are a powerful reminder that diversity in all its forms, including neurodiversity, enriches our workplaces and lives.
We’re not here to dwell on the challenges either. We want to inspire and educate. Courtney shares her strategies and techniques, from technology to creative time-management practices, that have helped her combat the challenges posed by dyslexia.
Read more to hear from Courtney about her experience.
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Can you provide an overview of what it's like to live with dyslexia on a daily basis and how it affects various aspects of your life?
I’ve had dyslexia for so many years now that I’ve gotten used to living with it; thankfully, it doesn’t affect too much of my daily life. I actually forget that other people don’t have these struggles! They’re just normal to me now.
I tend to make silly little mistakes and struggle to see them unless I come back to them at a different time. I can sometimes read something off my shopping list; for example, I think it’s one item, go to order it and then when it arrives, it’s not what I intended to order.
I also struggle with retaining information when it’s been verbally communicated with me unless I get a copy of it written down too; this was one of my biggest struggles when I had my dyslexia assessment done.
Even simple things like texting, I know what I want to write in my head, but the action of me typing it out can get lost, and I type a completely different word or phrase to what I was thinking as I was writing it. I usually can’t see that I’ve typed it wrong until I come back to it at a different time; it’s like it’s invisible when it’s fresh in my mind.
Dyslexia can manifest differently in individuals. What are some of the challenges you've encountered in reading, writing, or other areas, and how have you learned to overcome them?
Reading: For years, I’ve not been able to read books because I really struggle to read black text off white paper. This past Christmas, I had a brainwave to try using a Kindle as you can read in dark mode, and wow, what a game-changer! I could actually read books properly for the first time, I’ve read every single day since I got myself a Kindle.
At work, I also have all my programs set to dark mode for this reason, and often, I have to change my page colour to dusky pink, as that's the best colour for me to read off.
I also struggle sometimes to read a sentence and understand what it’s saying to me. I have to read it 3-5 times to understand what it’s saying properly.
Writing: As mentioned in the previous question, I often write things that I’m not even saying in my head and can’t see it until someone points it out or until I re-read it at a later stage.
I also struggle with getting what I want to say out onto paper. I know what I want to say in my head, but sometimes, my brain blocks, and I can’t form exactly what I want to say. Ironically, I did it while writing this sentence!
Listening: One of my main struggles is retaining information from listening. I always have to write everything down, or it just doesn’t stick in my head. It usually takes me a few times of re-reading something for it to stick.
Dyslexia is often misunderstood. What are some common misconceptions you've encountered, and how do you educate others about the condition?
I think when people think of dyslexia, they commonly think of letters jumbling up. And this is the case for a lot of people. Thankfully, I don’t get this symptom too intensely, only really when I’m tired.
When in reality, there are a lot of different factors included in dyslexia. It can make you feel silly or a bit useless sometimes when you struggle with basic everyday tasks, such as ordering the wrong item when shopping, because your brain reads something wrong without you even realising it. Patience is the key for yourself and others living and working with you!
Could you share some strategies or techniques that have been particularly helpful in managing dyslexia-related challenges in your everyday life?
If you can, always get a second pair of eyes on things like writing! Especially if you’re not sure if something's right. At work, it’s also good to tell your manager about your dyslexia, I get assistance from my team to help pick up on anything my brain misses.
If you struggle to retain information like me, it’s always good to get your partner, friends, parents, etc., to go through important documents with you. I miss/forget so many things, and my Husband, thankfully, remembers key details when I don’t.
If you struggle reading text on white backgrounds like me, switch every website/app/device to dark mode! I don’t know how I managed life without dark mode, haha.
Dyslexia can impact reading and writing skills. How do you approach reading and writing tasks, and are there specific tools or technologies that have been beneficial?
After expressing my struggle to my manager, she got us a Grammarly subscription, which is a LIFE SAVER for someone with dyslexia! It can help save so much time and gives you a bit more independence rather than having to rely on someone else to check absolutely everything!
Dyslexia is often associated with unique strengths, such as creativity and problem-solving abilities. Can you describe some of these strengths and how they have benefited you in your career?
I’m definitely a creative person, I always have been. I find my strengths are in visual communication, I see everything visually before theoretically. We use my strengths in our team to our advantage. I often create any visual content we need in marketing as I’m better at making something look good rather than written very well.
Organisation and time management can be challenging for individuals with dyslexia. How do you stay organised and manage your workload effectively at your job?
Thankfully, I’m pretty good at being organised, as it drives me mad if I’m late or over my time limit. I can’t think straight until I know where my time is going and have my time planned out. I religiously use my Google calendar to organise my time and tasks so I can visually see my day on a calendar. However, there have been occasions in my personal life where I’ve gotten dates and times completely wrong, as I’ve read them as something different.
Dyslexia awareness is essential for creating a more inclusive society. What advice do you have for individuals and organisations looking to promote dyslexia awareness and support in the workplace and beyond?
Definitely be vocal with your team about having dyslexia! You’ll find that people are more accommodating to any mistakes and want to help support you. Ask your manager to get Grammarly if you’re in a writing-heavy job; it’ll help everyone so much.
Can you share a personal success story or a moment of pride related to your career, where you overcame dyslexia-related challenges to achieve your goals?
When I joined this job, I had a major fear of writing. It’s something I’d never been confident in, and it exhausted my brain trying harder to make it hit a standard that is ‘normal’. But with support from my manager and my team, just practising, talking through mistakes (a little bit of AI), and patience have led to me now writing blogs and social posts regularly! It does take longer than the average person, but your journey to being a better writer is just as important as those who don’t have these struggles! You’ll get there.
Dyslexia Awareness Week aims to increase understanding and support. What advice would you give to individuals and organisations looking to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with dyslexia?
Just be patient! If something looks written silly or doesn’t make sense, it may be dyslexia! Helping point these things out in a gentle manner helps us become better writers. We won’t always be able to see our mistakes, but if they’re highlighted respectfully, it’s such a massive help to get us to our desired goal (which is usually writing a strong piece).
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
If you do have dyslexia, it’s important to remember that it’s normal! So many people have it, and it doesn’t make you any less; your brain just works a little differently! There’s fun in being different; it makes the way you think very unique 😁
To hear more stories this Dyslexia Awareness Week, read Laura's story on her experience of living with dyslexia.
