Disorientation.
Let me illustrate:
Why does every ‘e’ in December sound different? (Yes, say it out loud) And how am I supposed to know which one sounds like what?
Why do I have to spell ‘pe-o-ple,’ but I have to say ‘pee-pel’?
Why do the letters p, b, q, and d sound different? They are LITERALLY the same letter, just upside down and inverted!
Why are these words suddenly dancing to the tunes of the lambada?
Is it ‘was’ or ‘saw’? Every time I see them, they switch places like they’re in some secret word conspiracy club.
Why does ‘dessert’ have two 's's and ‘desert’ only one? If I mix them up, I’m either getting lost in the sand or getting cake… Can we just agree on more ‘s’ for more sweet?
I was doing just fine until letters became part of math problems. Aren’t they supposed to be separate species?
Why does reading aloud feel like trying to rap in a foreign language, in slow-motion?
Why do ‘read’ and ‘read’ have to be the same word but sound different?
Are you feeling me?
According to the latest DSM-5 manual, dyslexia is classified as a ‘Specific Learning Disorder’ with an impairment in reading. Ronald Davis, a well-known figure in the field of dyslexia and author of The Gift of Dyslexia, explores the concept of disorientation as a key element in understanding dyslexia. He explains that people with dyslexia often experience moments of disorientation, where their perception of reality becomes altered, leading to confusion in processing written words or symbols. This disorientation is not a flaw but rather a unique way of thinking that, while challenging in some contexts—especially in our heavily word-oriented education system—also brings advantages, such as heightened creativity, holistic thinking, and unique problem-solving skills!
Dyslexia can manifest in various ways and is also considered a spectrum. My siblings and I can certainly testify to that!
When I was young, I didn’t receive an official diagnosis of dyslexia because I had developed enough coping skills to mask it, and it wasn’t that severe. ✌🏼️A shout-out to all my students who witnessed my struggles with spelling words correctly in front of the classroom (I always remind them: thank God I don’t teach a language, and thank God for spell check). As for my siblings, especially my brother—sometimes we have to read his sentences five times out loud to figure out what he’s trying to say (love you, Ryan!🫶🏼).
Having dyslexia can definitely be challenging.
Many of the comments I’ve mentioned above are ones I’ve actually heard from students with dyslexia. Because I can really relate to their experiences, I’ve always felt compelled to help them understand what’s going on and, most importantly, to prevent this ‘learning disorder’ from affecting their sense of self-worth😕.
I’ve seen too many students who knew only that they had a problem with reading and writing and received extra time on exams—without further information or support. This lack of understanding can lead to misconceptions about their intelligence and abilities. Lack of information also causes others to wrongly perceive these students as ‘less smart.’
For this reason, I’ve designed a training program for teens where, in a small group setting, we break down what dyslexia is, identify the specific challenges we face, and explore strategies for coping, especially in a school environment. More importantly, we focus on how to thrive as individuals by using your other well-developed abilities—your superpowers 💪🏼. This is a strengths-based approach to understanding and helping those with dyslexia.
If you or someone you know struggles with dyslexia, I encourage you to seek out support and resources.
Together, we can Transcend challenges into strengths🦋.
-Robyn
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