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ISBN: Print 978-1-64739-867-5 | eBook 978-1-64739-545-2
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I would like to dedicate this book to all adults with dyslexiafor their courage, tenacity, and talents. By displaying their strengths, they have helped to establish an attitude shift in education and employment, which has greatly benefited society at large. It has been a privilege for me to be a part of this movement and I have been enriched personally and professionally through meeting and working with countless children and adults with dyslexia.
Contents
Welcome to this workbook about dyslexia in adults. I am delighted to have the opportunity to write this book and hope that it speaks to many of the questions you have, whether youve been diagnosed with dyslexia or suspect you could be living with it. For 30 years now, Ive been a psychologist, and before that I was a classroom teacher. Ive specialized in dyslexia for most of that time. Ill provide clear pointers to help you progress in many areas so you can realize your full strengths and true potential.
When I was at school, dyslexia wasnt something that was diagnosed, and Im certain very few, if any, of the teachers had even heard the term. I suppose I was self-diagnosed, but I did not come to that realization until much later. I can recall totally switching off when the teacher switched on. I needed to see and discuss, not listen. Though I didnt realize it at the time, I was an active learner in a passive learning environment.
I am fortunate that I have a good long-term memory. But the flip side of this is that my short-term memory can be quite woeful! This did not go unnoticed by my mother, who was always astounded on the very few occasions I came home from the local grocery store with all of the correct items.
As I ventured into work, university, and teaching, I gradually realized I had a dyslexic profile and tried to compensate for it. But I still remember some glaring and embarrassing examples of my dyslexia in action. For example, after studying medieval history for three years, I still habitually misspelled the word feudal in my final exam papers, even though Id probably used the word about 100 times during my course.
Dyslexia is an ongoing life experienceone that asks you to continue to adapt and grow. The important point is that dyslexia doesnt need to be a disadvantage, and in this book, Ill show you how dyslexia can be just the oppositea genuine advantage. To help you make the most of that, this book offers opportunities for you to develop the know-how and the skills to cultivate your strengths and achieve success, however you define it.
Looking back, I can say that healthy self-esteem is perhaps one of the most crucial elements in the journey to personal fulfillment for people with dyslexia. This book will help you develop self-esteem, self-advocacy, and self-knowledge. It will also help you gain a sense of empowerment and a greater appreciation for the positive aspects of dyslexia.
I want to empower you to learn and develop your talents in a positive way and see your dyslexia as a pathway to develop new skills and enhance your existing strengths. The book will give you insights into your ways of thinking and learning. It will invite you to engage in stimulating activities to build the skills you want to improve and appreciate the skills you have that you may not have been aware of. View your dyslexia as a gift and use it like you would use all giftswith care, compassion, and gratitude.
Let me assure you that legislation and equality laws are on your side. Federal law in the United States (and in most countries) formally recognizes dyslexia, and most states have dyslexia-specific laws. Research by nessy.com in 2019 and DyslexicAdvantage.org in 2020 indicated that only four states had no specific dyslexia laws. Although most of the legislation relates to schools and higher education, there is clearly a relation to adults in the workplace. Most of the legislation appears to focus on definitions of dyslexia, screening procedures, interventions, and accommodations. One of the benefits is that individuals with dyslexia will begin to see accommodations and general support for dyslexia as the norm and not something that is special or segregates them in any major way from others. Increasingly, the stigma of disability that may have been associated with dyslexia many years ago has become less of a factor. The work of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) has been instrumental in gaining support for adults with dyslexia, and its annual conference has a powerful adult focus.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act attempts to protect against discrimination in the workplace, the criteria are less clear than for schools. Essentially, employers have only to provide reasonable accommodations. It is worthwhile for adults to also seek advice from the Job Accommodation Network, which is a key source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
