Dyslexia is a disorder that can be characterized by difficulties with reading due to problems with identifying speech sounds and learning to relate letters or words. In some instances, letters may even become obscured, seemingly jump on the page, or may even become inverted to some readers.
Dyslexia tends to occur only in early childhood and may cause symptoms of delayed speech, slowness of reading, difficulties in writing, and even delay in learning how to read. In other cases, dyslexia can continue though out the individual's entire education and continue into an individuals adulthood exhibited by symptoms such as organizational issues, work related anxiousness, comprehension delays, difficulties taking notes and difficulties in presenting information to others.
Having struggled myself with Dyslexia through out my entire childhood, adult education, and even in my career, I have experienced and continue to experience most of the related symptoms. I have also learned that there is no simple answer to managing the difficulties that come with Dyslexia. In fact, managing Dyslexia in education and in my career can be very frustrating and overwhelming at times.
On the bright side, there are a number of strategies that can be applied to assist you in your adult education and career. Below we will discuss a few strategies that have helped me in my education and career.
My Strategies for Adult Education and Career:
Record Meetings and Presentations: As a reasonable accommodation, any employer or educational setting should allow the recording of meetings and presentations. Using a digital recorder or having meetings video recorded has been a great asset when you need to be reminded of information that was covered in a meeting or presentation.
Take Notes: When able, I take notes that I can refer back to quickly. For me, pictorial notes and outline notes are most effective as they help me remember the information presented but are not too hard to manage while listening.
Pick the Right Seat: Picking my seat in a meeting has been one of the most important steps in managing my Dyslexia at work and in a class. Sitting in a place where I can focus on the speaker and not be distracted by others is very important. Distractions often cause me to take in unrelated visual data that can cloud the other information that is being presented. When this happens, I often find that my notes reflect information unrelated to the presentation.
Take Breaks: At times too much visual stimulus and tiredness can cause my dyslexia to become unmanageable. Simply standing in the back of the room, taking a bathroom break, using a sit-stand desk, or taking a moment to eat a snack helps me refocus on the task at hand.
Get Good Sleep: As mentioned before, fatigue can cause my dyslexia to become unmanageable. Making sure that I have the proper amount of sleep before a class or work can significantly improve my brain's ability to take in information.
Use Tools: There is an array of tools/equipment that can be utilized in managing your Dyslexia. Color overlays, reading rulers, recording devices, dictionary pens, sit-stand desks, and even pens that read information have been essential items in my bag of tools. The greatest part is that there are programs that can assist you in purchasing assistive devices/equipment to help with your education and in your career. Visit the https://www.twc.texas.gov for more information.
There are a great deal of other strategies that can be applied to any educational setting or career. These however are the main strategies that I have utilized and significantly improve my ability to manage my education and work. I hope that they will be something that can benefit you as well!
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