Dyslexia as a superpower
¡Hola amigos!
When I discovered I had dyslexia (10 years ago, at 23, while in university), everything suddenly made sense. I realized dyslexia had actually helped me develop my visual skills since childhood.
But what exactly is dyslexia? According to the internet:
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects a person's ability to read, write, and spell. It is a common learning disorder that primarily impacts skills related to language processing. Individuals with dyslexia may have difficulty recognizing and decoding words, which can lead to challenges in reading fluency and comprehension.
Dyslexia is not related to intelligence; people with dyslexia often have average or above-average intelligence. The exact cause of dyslexia is not fully understood but is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Early diagnosis and appropriate interventions, such as specialized reading programs and educational support, can significantly improve the reading and writing abilities of individuals with dyslexia, allowing them to achieve academic and professional success.
In summary, dyslexia affects written language, reading, writing, and spelling, and it impacts 20% of the population.
I feel fortunate; my level of dyslexia isn't very high, and I've always been a studious and responsible child, so I knew how to hide it well. My dyslexia didn't draw much attention. In school, it didn't go beyond attending support classes to do exercises that I didn't understand at the time. The difference between 'p' and 'q,' between 'A' and '4,' between 'd' and 'b.' I was 7 years old, and I remember pushing myself to finish the exercises quickly so I could return to class with my classmates "without conditions." What a shame to go to support classes, I thought.
As I was saying, I consider myself fortunate, but many children are struggling in school. They don't know what's happening, feel less intelligent than their peers, become frustrated, and lose interest. Actually, more than 65% of school failures occur due to misdiagnosis in cases of dyslexia or dyscalculia (similar to dyslexia but with numbers, I also experience this).
Today, Dyslexia Awareness Day, October 8th, I wanted to use this platform of mine to share a bit more information about dyslexia with you. If 1 in every 5 people in the world is dyslexic, there's a good chance that someone in your circle, or even you, might relate to this. Below, I've provided some useful links:
The True Gifts of a Dyslexic Mind. TED Talk by Dean Bragonier
The Creative Brilliance of Dyslexia. TED Talk by Kate Griggs
What is dyslexia? TED Talk by Kelli Sandman-Hurley
Dyslexic Sperm Bank by Made By Dyslexia
Dyslexia Awareness by Made By Dyslexia
Today, I am proud, and I present dyslexia as my superpower. In my work, I translate texts, concepts, ideas, and stories into images. So, I am truly grateful for the dyslexic training I've had since my school days. Thanks to dyslexia, I have 33 years of experience translating written language into visuals.
Thanks for reading and have a joyful day amigo!
