I recently met a client who suffered an injury at work and was worried he would not be able to return to his physical, manual job because of it. He sat in front of me and told me he could never do anything other than manual work because he was “too stupid”. This man certainly did not present as such and when I asked what made him classify himself as “stupid” he disclosed to me that he was dyslexic and did not do well at school. This gentleman became quite visibly emotional, apologetic and embarrassed talking about his dyslexia, and the thought of not being able to work within his comfort zone of “non-academic” employment. This encounter really struck a chord with me and I found myself talking to this client in depth about the possibilities he had in terms of vocational support and re-training, after which he told me that I was lucky I didn’t have to think about such things. I sat for a moment feeling perplexed that my Client seemed to think that his lawyer couldn’t possibly understand the struggles he would face. After a careful thought I decided to disclose to my Client that I too struggle with dyslexia but that it is not a barrier to success in any field. He said he was shocked as he would never have guessed he would meet a dyslexic lawyer. I was taken aback by this and it made me think about the perception people have about dyslexia.
It seems to be a common misconception, even amongst dyslexics themselves as I discovered, that dyslexia is linked to a lack of intellectual capability. This misconception is apparent in schooling, where it is all too prevalent (in the writer’s experience) to hear of parents having to fight with schools to get their children tested for this specific learning difficulty because their child is not struggling generally with their school work. This story is familiar to me too. At school I was never tested for dyslexia as “I was doing well in all my lessons; I wasn’t struggling or falling behind.”
When a child has poor behaviour at school, the school provides additional support, but is there the same level of focus on a less obvious difficulty such as dyslexia? I am sure the understanding of dyslexia has changed through the years, as has the understanding of many other learning or behavioural problems usually highlighted during schooling. However there seems to still be some way to go to ensure all potential dyslexics receive the testing and support that is needed to help breakdown the additional barriers they face. I appreciate that school budgets only go so far (certainly not far enough) however, it is a personal frustration that some students may struggle to reach their potential because of a lack of testing and support.
I wasn’t diagnosed as dyslexic until I started at University and sought out the support of the disabled students support team. They arranged testing and ultimately put in place a fantastic support package which helped me to learn new study tactics and how to utilise aids and equipment to tackle the academic world of undergraduate law.
For me personally, one of the biggest challenges I face is reading – I find it hard to concentrate on the words on a page and sometimes they seem to move a bit. One particularly useful tool to help with reading was a simple sheet of coloured acetate which helps the eye to focus on words on the page. This in itself lead to regular questions from fellow inquisitive students, questions which were never malicious, but there were times when I personally felt embarrassed that my peers had noticed something different about me.
University is challenging for anyone – often the first time being away from home, learning a new subject and studying independently. Having the additional hurdle of studying with dyslexia often made me feel incredibly self-conscious – having to spend longer reading materials, taking more time to complete written assignments and even having extra time in my exams. Just through my personal experience I can understand why some people hide behind dyslexia and feel less inclined to continue into higher education or an academic career.
When I initially started looking for work in the legal sector I was hesitant to share some of the problems I had with employers because of the embarrassment I felt at University. However, I have always been pleasantly surprised by the understanding and support I have received in the workplace. From arranging assistive software on my computer and being afforded a quiet working space to having letters proof read. However, the most important aspect I have experienced is just a genuine appreciation from my employers of the fact that sometimes, written work or reading takes a little longer. This has certainly helped my professional confidence and is something I explained to my client who was concerned about working in an office as a dyslexic.
In conclusion, my point is that having dyslexia shouldn’t be a barrier to success. Dyslexics often thrive when problem solving and have a great ability to think unconventionally. Famous dyslexic success stories include Richard Branson and Walt Disney. There has even been a suggestion that Leonardo da Vinci himself was a dyslexic – other than the erratic and strange spelling, he wrote his notes in reverse mirror image (a trait shared by some dyslexic left-handers who often do not realise they write in this manner). Learning about the success stories within the realm of dyslexia has been a huge inspiration and encouragement to me and hopefully will continue to be so to other aspiring professionals.
It would be great to think that all employers in our profession offer the same level of support that I have been privileged enough to experience. I would urge any fellow lawyers who have dyslexia, or any other learning problem or disability, to take the brave step to talk to their employers about it. If you are finding something difficult, there could be something that your employer could do to help support you.
I have recently joined the “Lawyers with Disabilities Division” (LWDD) who are a voice for disabled lawyers and a wider network of support within the legal profession. For anyone who wants to read more about the LWDD then login to “My Law Society” and tick the “Lawyers with Disabilities” box under the diversity and inclusion heading on the “Interests” tab or email lawyerswithdisabilites@lawsociety.org.uk.
If you have been affected by this article, have you experience issues with your employer not providing reasonable support and adjustments, then contact our Employment Solicitors om 0800 567 7595 or email us on enquiries@summerfieldbrowne.com
