So Is It Ok To Come Out Of The Dyslexic Closet?
You may think that’s a crazy kind of title and what it means!.
Well, I see people discussing the fact they are dyslexic, pretty much the same way that some people have a relationship with someone of the same sex. There is a stigma with both things, yet in 2017 to me anyway, it seems people are more comfortable discussing their sexuality than being dyslexic.
Why is this? it’s not always been ok for someone to show their sexuality and has taken years of awareness, rallies, discussions and brave people willing to stick their head up above the parapet declaring who they are. It’s even acceptable and legal to marry a same-sex partner. Now, this article is not about that subject but I am drawing some parallels and it is an example of what was and what is now.
My mission is to change perceptions of dyslexia in the UK (let’s start somewhere), it’s one reason why I rebranded myself as:
“The International Dyslexic Superhero”.
I am sticking my head above the parapet, happy to talk about it at every opportunity, public speaking on the subject. I recently was speaking in Wales, at the Princess Royal Theater, happy to share my experience, my thoughts and learning on the subject.
I really struggled when at 44 discovering I was dyslexic, leaving a full-time career what do I do? Keep it quiet? Or adapt to it cover it up the best I could?. I was launching a business at the time, going into companies as a kind of troubleshooter, would companies pay for my services, trust me if they knew I was dyslexic. I knew from my corporate career, the misunderstanding, lack of awareness and to be honest total ignorance of the condition.
So I took the decision to “Come out of the Closet”, see, I thought, I am telling a lie to myself if I don’t and being dishonest to potential customers. If someone elicited my services, then retrospectively discovered I was dyslexic, it may not be good for my credibility, or the working relationship. There was a risk that some companies would not want to work with me, yet I thought perhaps some companies would. So by being open and honest, I would attract those that were forward thinking and understanding. It would also mean if I identified dyslexics in business, there are at least 15% of dyslexic people employed in many organizations. Some industries or roles have a much higher percentage.
Taking the stand to “Come out of the Dyslexic Closet” has enabled me to change my business direction that focuses on educating individuals, business and public in general, I am comfortable in who I am, how my brain works and focus on the positive aspects not the negative. Most people I meet still think dyslexia is all about spelling and words jumping around the page. This may be the symptom (to some) but it’s not what dyslexia is, dyslexia is how your brain processes information, retrieves it and see’s the world. Without repeating myself from previous articles, think the brain as being the difference between a Mac computer and a Microsoft computer, both pretty much do the same thing. The fundamental difference is the programming !.
As I am comfortable talking about dyslexia openly, I spoke to the room about focusing on this element and how I had approached this by doing a radio show, podcast, public speaking and writing for this magazine.
What was really interesting, is when I did this a number of people that opened up about the subject, once they had seen someone else “come out”. The day was closed by they trustee who is a Senior Police Office. He closed by summarizing the day and added “I am dyslexic and it’s important that we have this in our thoughts and plans to further help the young people we work with “ big smile from me.
What really blew me away was, he came to me later and said: “I’ve only said in public that I am dyslexic twice now, I felt I could because you were here and been discussing it”. Simply wow. So, if nothing else from that day, I had affected at least one more amazing dyslexic to open up. The more people that do, the stigma will reduce and it will be more socially acceptable to be dyslexic and we can open up a sensible dialog with education, big businesses, and the general public.
Dyslexics need to embrace their identity and openly be proud to be who they are, pretty much as those brave individuals have in regards to the sexual orientation community.
So what is the message? It’s one of, be proud of being dyslexic, some people won’t get it, won’t understand it but much more will.Let’s educate people on the amazing abilities, try to steer away from the negatives and be proud really proud of who we are.
My mission continues.Who’s joining me in coming out of the Closet?It’s not as bad as you might think
Thanks for reading
“International Dyslexic Superhero”
