In a world that often celebrates uniformity, there exists a beautiful mosaic of minds, each with its own distinct way of perceiving and interpreting the world. Among these unique perspectives lies dyslexia, a neurological variation that gifts individuals with a truly special lens through which they experience life. For those of us living with dyslexia, words are like dancers on a stage, each one moving to its own rhythm. The letters may waltz and tango, pirouette and sway, creating a beautiful, albeit unconventional, choreography. This dance can sometimes be perplexing and frustrating, but it’s also a reminder of the extraordinary way our minds work. Dyslexia has an uncanny ability to unlock the doors of creativity. When words don’t always align in the traditional sense, our minds find alternative pathways to convey ideas. We are often gifted with vivid imaginations, able to envision the world in ways that others might not. This unique perspective fuels our creativity, allowing us to paint pictures with words, compose symphonies with sentences, and sculpt stories with the strokes of a pen. Living with dyslexia demands a certain kind of resilience, a determination to press forward even when faced with seemingly impossible challenges. Each time we stumble over a word or face a blank page with skepticism, we are reminded of our determination. We learn that endurance is not just a choice but a fundamental part of our journey. It also teaches us the importance of seeking and embracing accommodations. These tools level the playing field, allowing us to showcase our true capabilities. Whether it’s audiobooks, speech-to-text software, or specialized fonts, these adaptations empower us to excel in our chosen fields, proving that dyslexia is not a barrier but a springboard. I haven’t always seen dyslexia this way, far from it. Dyslexia has also been my enemy, a bully, whom continually ate away at my self-esteem and in turn my self-love.  It belittled my intelligence and destroyed my self-confidence. It made me feel stupid. Dyslexia wasn’t solely to blame, the attitude from others, especially my school teachers had a humungous part to play in making me feel this way. The educators who were meant to guide me,  encourage me, and believe in my capacities, were the ones who told me repeatably I was thick and would never amount to anything.  I would be a millionaire, if I was given a pound every time I was told, 

“If you do not know how spell it, look it up in a dictionary!!!”

Their words haunt me, constantly nipping at the self-belief.  Between the torturous words of my so-called educators and the everyday challenges of dyslexia, I was left with the mindset of being a failure, never capable of achieving, my brain my biggest disability. 

Over time, I’ve discovered that my so-called disability is actually my strength, it’s part of my character, it’s who I am. It’s the part of me that, makes my family belly laugh, at the ridiculous phrases that splurge from my constant muddled mind, the ones I swear will be repeated and laughed about, when I no longer am part of this earthly realm. 

Even though I am now at ease with my dyslexia, it is still very frustrating, particularly when it comes to numbers and maths, my brain just doesn’t get it.  Another huge frustration is when I’m trying to write something for Intwined. I know exactly what I want to write, but getting those words, thoughts or feelings down on paper, or typed upon the screen, is a whole new level of frustration, followed swiftly by self-dealt, uselessness and worthlessness.  It’s a continuous battle that rages deep within my soul. A battle I am determined to conquer. 

Thankfully at present, I am successfully slaying the dragon.  I can finally recognise that living with dyslexia is a gift. It allows me to see the world in a way that is uniquely my own. It challenges me to find beauty in the unconventional, to celebrate the dance of letters, and to recognise the strength that lies within a mind that works differently from others. It teaches me that I am not defined by my challenges, but by the incredible mystery of my mind.

So what are the common signs and symptoms of dyslexia? Here are a few examples. 

✏️ Difficulty with phonemic awareness, this is the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in words. People with dyslexia may struggle to break words down into their individual sounds.

✏️ Difficulty decoding. Decoding involves the ability to match letters to their corresponding sounds and blend them together to form words. Dyslexics may have trouble with this fundamental reading skill.

✏️ Someone with dyslexia often reads slowly and may have difficulty recognizing familiar words quickly.

✏️ They may make consistent mistakes when reading aloud, even when the material is familiar.

✏️ Dyslexics may find it challenging to spell words correctly. This is often due to difficulties in recognizing the sounds within words.

✏️ Reversals and transpositions the reverse or transpose letters, numbers, or words. For example, writing “b” instead of “d” or reversing the order of letters in a word.

✏️ People with dyslexia may struggle with tasks that require the organization of steps in a specific order.

✏️ Dyslexics may have difficulty with the rules governing punctuation and capitalization and may have messy or inconsistent handwriting, as well as finding it challenging to maintain consistent letter formation.

✏️ Recognizing and generating rhyming words can be a challenge for people with dyslexia.

✏️ Due to the frustration and effort required, some individuals with dyslexia may avoid reading whenever possible.

✏️ Difficulty with memorization, this can include difficulties with learning and recalling the alphabet, times tables, or other sequences of information.

✏️ Even when able to decode the words, people with dyslexia may lack fluency in reading, making it hard to read with speed and expression.

✏️ Understanding and retaining the meaning of what is read can be more difficult for people with dyslexia, especially with complex or lengthy texts.

It’s extremely important to note that dyslexia is a spectrum, and individuals may exhibit a combination of these signs to varying degrees. Additionally, it’s essential to remember that dyslexia does not indicate a lack of intelligence or potential. People with dyslexia can achieve great success just like everyone else. 

So, to my fellow dyslexics, I say this, 

“Embrace your journey. Dance with your words. Paint with your imagination. Find strength in your resilience. Know that your perspective is a precious gift to the world. Celebrate your extraordinary mind, for each and every one is a masterpiece in its own right.”

Until next time, Too-da-loo for now.

🦋🦋🦋