Things I hear too often as a dyslexic

Microaggressions are often subtle, unintentional comments, or actions that marginalize or belittle individuals based on their identity or experiences. In most instances where I've observed microaggressions, they appear to stem from a lack of awareness and understanding of the impact such statements can have on those who live with things such as neuro-differences.

Microaggressions, although small in gesture, aren't at all micro in impact and on the contrary may be significant to identity, self-confidence, openness of individuals... Therefore, it might be beneficial to consider renaming them to something else. How about "Large-gressions!"?

Today, my intention is not to point fingers at anyone, so please don't feel this way by any means. Instead, I aim to enlighten you about comments that may not be welcome.

"Oh, so you can't read or write!"

I can read and write; however, I experience challenges, often confusing letters, words, and sounds, making things occasionally incomprehensible. Take the title of this newsletter, for instance; it was originally "Things I Heart Too Often."

Reading is often exhausting for me. Nevertheless, I can skim through a text and grasp the gist quickly. I may miss details here and there, but I'll understand the overall big picture.

Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects information processing differently, impacting reading and writing, among other things.

"Does that mean letters move around on a page for you?"

In some cases, for some dyslexics, yes, but in my case, letters don't move around. Instead, I struggle more with cursive writing and non-dyslexic fonts like Times Roman. I also emphasize accessibility; is the font too small? Is the font a light color on a dark background? Is the webpage too busy and distracting? These factors affect my ability to read.

"You seem too intelligent to be dyslexic."

Let's clarify: dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. On the contrary, certain studies show that dyslexic individuals possess strengths beyond reading and writing. Other studies indicate that many entrepreneurs are dyslexic. So, don't question our intelligence!

"Stop being lazy and using your dyslexia as an excuse. Just apply yourself to write correctly."

I've heard this countless times in school; some would confuse my dyslexia with attention deficit, not realizing that I was genuinely trying. I would get exhausted or lost despite my efforts. I still hear this from time to time, hearing that dyslexia doesn't exist.

"Oh, we are all a bit dyslexic, aren't we?"

Some statistics claim that up to 20% of the population may be dyslexic, meaning 1 person out of 5. So, statistically, not everyone is a bit dyslexic. Saying things like this minimizes the experiences of individuals who actually have dyslexia, a specific learning disability. It can be dismissive and downplay the real struggles that individuals with dyslexia endure, contributing to a lack of understanding and perpetuating stereotypes.

"I'm so dyslexic today; I can't read or write anything."

Dyslexia is not something you catch or cure. You're either dyslexic or you're not. Describing it as being "so dyslexic today" makes a neurological condition seem trivial and random. This minimizes its significance and reflects a lack of understanding of dyslexia.

"You must be bad at languages."

Yes, I had a hard time with English and French class, losing points due to poor spelling, which was demotivating. It's not about being bad at languages but about the way I was taught. My brain isn't wired to memorize; I learn through experience, creating patterns and rules that work for me.

I speak English and French fluently and am proficient in Spanish, so am I really bad at languages? I'd like to think not; I'm just not good at spelling or avoiding word confusion.

"Everyone makes spelling mistakes; it's not a big deal."

While it's true that everyone makes spelling mistakes, when it becomes a handicap to success due to a neurological difference beyond one's control, it is a significant issue. There is no cure for dyslexia, and I can't simply practice to become better.

To conclude, the intricacies of dyslexia and other neurotypes can at times be unknown to some which explain why so many comments of this type arise. Dyslexia like other neurotypes is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and the dismissive use of microaggressions only perpetuates misunderstandings. It's like when someone says: "oh all girls are like that." that is false and wrong. Embracing diversity means acknowledging and respecting the uniqueness we have. It also means recognizing the challenges that come with it.

By exploring common misconceptions and responses, I hope to foster a growth mindset. It's okay to make mistakes, we all do, myself included. What I encourage is apologizing when you realize that you've made a mistake and being genuinely curious to understand and learn more. As the dialogue continues, let's work to replace ignorance by empathy and misconceptions with informed awareness to bring about a real societal change.

If you see any mistake, feel free to let me know and welcome to my dyslexic mind - Marilyn