Things are really starting to fall into place. Last week, my coach sent me a self-awareness template – mapping my strengths and where I wish to improve.
Download neurobox’s free self-advocacy template.
We started the session by talking about the effectiveness of this; often at times dyslexic people become clouded with others’ opinions and demands that we forget – myself included – just how much we bring to the table.
And that’s what I struggle with. The insecurities I have stem from what I believe others think of me. I become frustrated with myself for not managing those better. The ironic thing is, I’m comfortable being myself, but I can’t detect environments that stop me from feeling this way.
It’s not clearly defined in my mind like something’s clouding over the true answer. I’m left feeling confused about my surroundings. Are these things I can change or are these just neurotypical things that can’t be influenced?
As I always do, I go back to my childhood to figure out why I have these particular fears.
Supportively, my coach identified the differences between work and school, leaving me reassured that I can create my own autonomy to make my environment better for me instead of using it to rebel against an environment that couldn’t be changed by an individual student. The feelings inside me that bubble up to surface may seem to be triggered by the same thing, yet the outcome can be greatly influence now.
I was confronted with three options:
Live with it knowing that I’m different – in a good way, it’s their loss 😉
Learn to change my reaction to it by humanising the fear
Educate those around me
I chose option 2: talk myself out of feeling the way I do. Despite feeling down about being misunderstood, I have to change my outlook for my own mental health.
Naturally, we moved into an area more acquainted with what Dyslexia Workplace Strategy: assistive technology. Part 1 of changing my outlook is to build my support network so I become less misunderstood, or at least start to pick up on my spelling and grammar before anyone else does.
The key takeaway from this coaching session is how much I absorb emotionally when someone tells me I’ve made a spelling mistake or a grammatical error. It always affected me, but I never knew why. It’s the constant reminder that other people see your mistakes before you do – that something you sign off on isn’t actually all correct.
My coach suggested I use tools to help me see these errors before other people do, tools like:
Read&Write by TextHelp to help me read (and therefore process) quicker and more succinctly
Quilbot to help me rephrase and restructure my sentences
ai to completely construct my sentences if I have the idea for writing but not the means
See if these assistive tools will help me to change how I react to others’ opinions of my dyslexia.
I’ll report back in the penultimate week: Week 5 is coming soon!
Download neurobox’s free self-advocacy template.
Armelle works in the data industry as a marketing professional, alongside running Girls with Dyslexia where she advocates for dyslexia awareness, support and empowerment. Her most recent accomplishments include speaking at the Dyslexia Show 2023, and has been featured in the Indeed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report 2023.
Armelle was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia during her final year of Loughborough University studying BSc International Business, where the transition from study to work life prompted her to embark on her Girls with Dyslexia journey.
